Page 19 - ATODAY

SPORTS A19
Monday 14 March 2016

Schwartzel rallies and beats Haas in a playoff

Charl Schwartzel, of South Africa, reacts as he just misses his putt for birdie during regulation play the Copperhead course, out the greens, which were
on the 18th hole during the final round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament Sunday, Schwartzel and McCoy slower than normal. Moore
March 13, 2016, in Palm Harbor, Fla. Schwartzel later beat Bill Haas in a playoff hole. were the only players to was within one shot of the
break par from the last nine lead at the turn, but he
groups. closed with 12 straight pars
for a 71 to finish two shots
“I think everyone’s goal out of the playoff in third
is to keep bogeys off the place.
card,” Schwartzel said It also was a tough day for
when he finished his regula- Ian Poulter, who had a 75-
tion round. “You’re just sur- 75 weekend and tied for
viving.” 67th.
That wasn’t easy to do.
Steve Stricker was two shots That bumped Poulter down
out of the lead until he to No. 67 in the world rank-
made a double bogey on ing, which could knock him
the par-5 11th and never out of the Dell Match Play.
recovered. Graham DeLa- This was the final week be-
et of Canada, starting the fore the world ranking is
final round one shot behind used to determine the 64-
and determined to get his man field (Jim Furyk and
first PGA Tour victory, never Henrik Stenson are not play-
made a birdie in his round ing). PGA Tour rookie Pat-
of 75. ton Kizzire closed with a 72
Ryan Moore hit the ball and tied for 33rd, enough
great and couldn’t figure to move past Poulter.q

Associated Press

DOUG FERGUSON Open in 1998 at Royal Birk-
AP Golf Writer dale. Robbie Shelton tied
PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — for third last year in the Bar-
Charl Schwartzel used two basol Championship, held
big birdies to close with a opposite the British Open.
4-under 67 and made up McCoy would have
a five-shot deficit. All he earned $292,800 had he
needed was a par on the been a pro.
first hole of a playoff Sun- “It’s surreal to say the least,”
day at Innisbrook to beat McCoy said.
Bill Haas and win the Val- Spieth fell behind early,
spar Championship. never caught up and
Schwartzel’s two-putt par closed with a 73 to tie for
on the 18th hole in a play- 18th, seven shots behind.
off gave him his third vic- He couldn’t help but ap-
tory worldwide in his last six plaud McCoy when he fin-
starts dating to December. ished his round.
Haas, who never trailed
over the final 27 holes of Schwartzel was the only
regulation, hit his tee shot player who put any sus-
into the trees in the playoff, tained pressure on Haas,
came up short into a bun- and he made his move
ker and blasted long out of with a 65-foot birdie putt
the soft sand to 20 feet. He across the green on the
missed the par putt, and par-3 13th hole. He got up-
Schwartzel tapped in for his and-down from a tough lie
first victory in America since in the bunker for birdie on
the 2011 Masters. the 14th, made a tough
par save from the edge of
The loudest cheers be- a bunker on the 16th and
longed to Lee McCoy, rolled in a 25-foot putt on
the senior at Georgia who the 17th.
grew up next to Innisbrook He posted at 7-under 277.
and made good on his first Haas had a two-shot lead
sponsor’s exemption. Play- with three holes to play
ing alongside Jordan Spi- and had made tough par
eth, McCoy shot 69 to finish saves to stay in front. It final-
alone in fourth. ly caught up with him when
It was the best finish by he made bogey from the
an amateur in a PGA Tour bunker on the 16th hole,
event of top players since and he closed with two
17-year-old Justin Rose pars for a 72.
tied for fourth at the British With more swirling wind on