Els wins playoff with Baddeley to claim second victory of 2003
IN: News | US PGA | Sony Open in Hawaii (2003) | Wrap | 20 Jan 2003
Ernie Els has won for the second time in two weeks, although this time he really had to work for it. Els holed an 18-metre putt to put an end to what would have been a fairytale start to Aaron Baddeley's Rookie year on the US PGA Tour. In doing so, Els also became the first player since Steve Jones, almost fourteen years ago, to win the first two PGA Tour events of the season.
21-year-old Baddeley began the day with a two stroke lead but bogeys at the third and fifth holes and a blemish-free round from Els meant that both players closed the their rounds at -16 and were forced into a sudden-death playoff.
The first playoff hole was the par 5 18th, which both players birdied and so onto the next playoff hole at the par 4 10th hole. Els' second shot came up short and he faced a mammoth 15-metre putt while Baddeley chipped out of the greenside bunker to lad within 20 feet of the hole. Els kept his cool to sink the long putt with consummate ease, which now placed the pressure squarely on Baddeley. Unfortunately, Baddeley was unable sink his seven-metre putt and the victory went to Els once again.
The easy going South African closed with a -3 (67), while Baddeley could only manage a -1 (69) as both players finished at -16. However, Baddeley showed that he has both the mental and physical game to mix it with the best in the world.
Els took home US$810,000 for his trouble and now has a total of $1.81 million and tops the US PGA Tour money list. Els will now take a break and return to play the Accenture Match Play Championship at the end of February. Baddeley had to settle for a cool US$486,000 in second place.
Chris DiMarco had a 66 to finish in outright third at -14 and US$306,000, while defending champion Jerry Kelly eagled the 18th for a -5 (65) to close the day alongside Robert Allenby in equal 4th, who mounted somewhat of a mini-comeback on the final day to eventually close with a -4 (66). Allenby and Jerry Kelly earned themselves US$198,000 each. Fellow countryman, Stuart Appleby fired a superb -7 (63), the best round of the tournament, to finish in outright sixth.
Peter Lonard was next best of the Australasians and finished in a three-way tie for 12th at -9. Lonard played good golf for most of the week but five bogeys in thirteen holes in the third round and two more in the final round meant that he was never in contention today.
Of the other Australasians to make the cut, Rod Pampling closed in 27th place at -6, Steve Alker was 33rd, Anthony Painter and Scott Laycock 40th and Craig Perks equal 60th. Craig Parry was the big name Australian casualty of the week after failing to make the cut with a 6 (76) in the second round.
