Bart Bryant hit some dramatic shots at the Memorial, even if no one seemed to notice until an unlikely par on the final hole gave him a one-shot victory over Fred Couples on Sunday.
Bryant stole the lead from Couples with a 5-foot birdie on the 17th, then somehow escaped with par after his tee shot went into the hazard down the left side of the 18th fairway. He took a penalty drop, hit into 15 feet, and watched the putt drop for a 4-under 68.
Couples, playing in the final group behind him, narrowly missed a 10-foot birdie on the 17th, then flew his approach over the 18th green into deep rough, ending his hopes of winning for the first time in two years.
Bryant, who finished at 16-under 272, earned US$990,000 (805,500 euros) and now gets a day off. He was headed for Tampa, Florida on Monday for a US Open qualifier, but his second US PGA Tour victory in the last nine months gave him a spot in the field at Pinehurst No. 2 in two weeks for his first US Open in 11 years.
"There were so many good players up there, I knew somebody would shoot 67 or 68 to win," Bryant said. "I just didn't know it would be me."
Tiger Woods' bid was stopped early by a double bogey at No. 8, and he wound up with a 68 to finish in a tie for third with Bo Van Pelt (68) and Jeff Sluman (72) at 12-under 276. The tie kept Woods from returning to No. 1 in the world.
For Couples, it was a rare chance to win on tour, and he let it slip away despite shots that sent the gallery into a frenzy at times.
With a vintage performance and a rousing finish, Annika Sorenstam eagled the last hole for a final-round 64 to win the ShopRite LPGA Classic by four strokes.
After fending off game challenges by Juli Inkster and Laura Davies, Sorenstam rolled in a 38-foot putt for eagle at the 18th that put the finishing touches on a 17-under 196 total.
"It doesn't get much better than that," Sorenstam said. "This is when I look at my career and say `Hey, this is why I do this. This is why I wake up in the morning and go to practice.'"
It was Sorenstam's 61st LPGA victory and fifth in seven events of this season.
Sorenstam won the Classic for the third time and claimed the US$210,000 (170,800 euros) winner's share. Inkster closed with a 68 and was 13 under. Catriona Matthew (64) and Laura Davies (68) were five strokes back at 12 under.
Tom Jenkins rolled in a 5-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to beat D.A. Weibring and win the Allianz Championship and finally end a monthlong flirtation with victory on the Champions Tour.
He had finished in the top 10 in five of his previous six tournaments, including two seconds and a third, but just wasn't able to get that win -- until now.
Jenkins and Weibring, the defending champion, finished 54 holes on the wind-swept Tournament Club of Iowa at 9-under 204, Jenkins closing with a 67 and Weibring a 66.
Miguel Angel Jimenez eagled the 16th hole from 40 feet on his way to a 7-under 62 to win by four strokes.
The Spanish Ryder Cup player trailed by one shot entering the final round and bogeyed his second hole. But he dropped no more shots and six birdies, plus the eagle, took him to a final total of 14-under 262.
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