Rory McIlroy enjoyed a US$2 million pay day yesterday after a nerve-shredding playoff with Anthony Kim of the US, who came within a whisker of claiming the lavish purse at the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters.
The players dueled in a tense sudden-death playoff on the tricky par-four 18th for the biggest cash prize in golf.
Nothing separated the players at the last, with their approach shots landing four feet apart in the bunker under the green amid disbelieving gasps from the grandstand, but Kim gifted McIlroy the most lucrative check of his career when he missed a crucial three-foot putt after a precision bunker shot. McIlroy, the world No. 3, tapped in from two feet to complete a pleasing week’s work and take home a bulging wage packet.
Photo: Reuters
“It was a very important win. I’ll be the first to say I have not won enough in the last four years as a pro and could have done a lot more,” McIlroy said after the unsanctioned event, which has raised eyebrows with its massive purse. “I was under pressure on the back nine and one shot behind, so to be able come back and win gives me a lot of satisfaction.”
He was looking forward to celebrating with his tennis ace girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, who flew into China yesterday to join him.
Early nerves frazzled the US Open champion, who dropped three shots — hitting the water and rough with wayward drives — and threatened to derail his title charge after leading the 30-strong field from the first day.
It allowed Kim, who picked up the US$750,00 second prize, to take a one-shot lead, but the Northern Irishman stormed back to card a par-72 and end the tournament tied on 18-under overall to force the playoff.
“I don’t care how I win, so long as my name is on the trophy,” McIlroy said.
Hunter Mahan of the US and impressive South Korean youngster Noh Seung-yul tied for third on 13-under.
The final round was played in the best conditions of the inaugural tournament backed by billionaire property tycoon Shi Jian and his US-educated son, Janson. The US$2 million kitty outstrips the other major offerings by a cool half-million dollars, but is not the quite the record amount as claimed by the organizers throughout the competition.
The annual — and similarly unsanctioned — “African Major,” the Nedbank Golf Challenge, in 2000 became the first tournament to offer US$2 million to the winner, but it has since spread the US$4.8 million purse move evenly among the 12 players.
However, the Lake Malaren first place pot dwarfs current major tournaments.
Shi Jian, the chairman of SRE Group, and his 28-year-old son, who are funding the US$5 million showpiece, have been criticized by the Asian Tour for putting on a “vanity” tournament for the world’s elite.
The pair say they offered the massive payday to lure top players to the event and grab the attention of Chinese sports fans.
ASIA PACIFIC CLASSIC
REUTERS, MUMBAI
Overnight leader Bo Van Pelt cantered to a six-stroke victory over fellow American Jeff Overton in the US$6.1 million CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia yesterday.
Leading by one shot from Overton, the 36-year-old Van Pelt hit a bogey-free seven-under 64 to win his second career title and a first prize of US$1.3 million at the Mines Resort and Golf Club.
Van Pelt hit the ground running with birdies on the third and fourth holes, before adding five more on the back nine to card a four-day total of 23-under 261 and capture the USPGA Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event.
“I feel like the luckiest guy in the world. I get to do what I love to do for a living,” Van Pelt, who won his maiden title on the US circuit in 2009, told reporters after his win. “It was funny. I got here Tuesday morning, went to the hotel, got showered and then went to the range. My swing felt good right at the first warm-up and I kind of continued that all week, and had confidence with what I wanted to do with my golf swing.”
Van Pelt was delighted with the margin of his victory.
“I had a chance to win a couple of times this year, but I didn’t come out on top,” he said. “I wanted to do a better job when I was having the lead and I took a lot of satisfaction with the way I played today.”
Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson finished third, a shot behind Overton, who is still searching for his first title on the USPGA Tour.
Overton paid tribute to his fellow American.
“That was one of the best rounds of golf I’ve seen ... at the end of the day, the guy, he played one of the best rounds of golf anybody has all year,” Overton said.
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