Page 22 - ARUBA TODAY

A22 SPORTS
Monday 3 February 2020
Simpson rallies to beat Finau in Phoenix Open playoff

By JOHN NICHOLSON wives are friends and he's
AP Sports Writer one of the best guys on
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — tour. So it is a bit tough."
Webb Simpson was in big A stroke ahead of Simpson
trouble when he drove into after a third-round 62, Finau
the right-side water on the parred the first seven holes,
par-5 15th. limiting his birdie chanc-
"I didn't think it was over," es with sluggish iron and
Simpson said. "But I thought, wedge play. He bogeyed
'I'm going to really have to the par-4 eighth to end a
do something special to 57-hole bogey-free streak,
get back in it.'" leaving an 8-iron from the
He did — at friend Tony fairway 65 feet short.
Finau's expense Sunday Finau made a big par save
in the Waste Manage- on the par-4 10th, holing a
ment Phoenix Open on 25-footer to only lose one
a TPC Scottsdale course stroke after Simpson ran in
that played tougher with a 5-footer for birdie and the
firm greens and a touch of lead.
wind. Finau pulled even with an
Simpson birdied the final 18-foot birdie putt on the
two holes of regulation to par-3 12th, a day after
force a playoff with Finau, Simpson aced the hole in
then won with a 10-foot Webb Simpson holds the champion's trophy and wears the winner's jacket as he stands with the a 64. Finau made a 9-foot
birdie putt on the first extra Thunderbirds Charities members after the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open birdie putt on the par-5
PGA Tour golf event Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Scottsdale, Ariz.
hole. Associated Press 13th to take the lead and
Two strokes ahead with doubled the advantage
two holes left, Finau missed Simpson said. "I thought the in playoffs, three years after tory. He also lost a playoff with a par on the 15th af-
an 18-foot birdie try in the pins were very tough, by far falling to Hideki Matsuyama to Xander Schauffele in No- ter Simpson drove into the
playoff on the par-4 18th the toughest day of pins, in extra holes at TPC Scott- vember 2018 in China in the water.
after driving left into the course was longer, we had sdale. Simpson also lost a WGC-HSBC Champions. They each parred the the
church pew bunkers. wind. We hadn't had wind playoff in November in the "I definitely didn't give him par-3 stadium 16th, with
Simpson two-putted for all week, so everything to- RSM Classic. the tournament," Finau Finau wearing a Kobe Bry-
birdie from the fringe on the day was harder." "I think getting frustrated af- said. "Unfortunately, it's ant jersey on the rowdy
short par-4 17th and made Finau shot 70. ter RSM led to being better how the cookie crumbles. hole. The PGA Tour cut the
a 17-footer for birdie from "I hit good putts," Finau prepared for today," Simp- ... I love Webb. I think the pin position in a tribute to
the edge of the green on said. "The first one I hit really son said. camaraderie that I have Bryant, using his two Lakers
the 18th. Finau, after hitting good, I thought I made it. ... Simpson visited instructor with him as being one of uniform numbers. The pin
a 366-yard drive and an Second one, similar line, a Butch Harmon on Monday my best friends out here, it was placed 24 yards from
approach to 8 feet, missed little bit farther, decided to in Las Vegas. would have been hard for the front edge and 8 yards
a chance to win when his play a little bit more break "I started the week off right, either one of us to take this from the left edge, putting it
birdie try slid right. and it didn't break." just getting a checkup from victory from each other. in the back left corner. The
Simpson closed with a 2-un- Simpson won his sixth PGA him," Simpson said. "And He got the upper hand this flag had an 8 one side and
der 69 to match Finau at Tour title and first since the two weeks of rest, I came in time, but I love that guy." a 24 on the other, and the
17-under 267. 2018 Players Champion- feeling ready to go." Simpson felt for Finau. numbers also were painted
"Today was a lot different. ship. The 2012 U.S. Open Finau missed a chance for "It's hard. He is a great into the grass in front of the
Today played tougher," champion improved to 2-6 his second PGA Tour vic- friend," Simpson said. "Our green.q
Graeme McDowell holds off Dustin

Johnson to win Saudi event

win the Saudi International his 16th professional win, in McDowell's partner in the
by two strokes on Sunday a 13th different country. final pairing, Victor Dubuis-
for his first European Tour A first title on McDowell's son, fell away after drop-
title since 2014. home tour since the 2014 ping five shots from Nos.
McDowell, the 2010 U.S. French Open lifted him 10-14 in a 4-over 74. The
Open winner at windy Peb- back into a top-50 world Frenchman was among
ble Beach, protected his ranking, and earned a win- five players tied for sixth
lead on a breezy afternoon ner's check of $583,000. place on 7 under, including
by the Red Sea to card a "It's special," the 40-year- Sergio Garcia (66).
12-under 268 total, hold- old Northern Irishman said. McDowell began the day
ing off late pressure by de- "I want to be back up there with a one-shot advantage
fending champion Dustin one more time just to be and never fell out of at
Graeme McDowell from Northern Ireland kiss the trophy after he
wins the final round of the Saudi International at Royal Greens Johnson. Johnson made an able to play against these least a share of the lead at
Golf and Country Club, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2020, in Red Sea resort of eagle on the par-5 18th by guys." the Royal Greens Golf and
King Abdullah Economic City, Saudi Arabia. chipping in over a bunker Phil Mickelson fired a 67 to Country Club.
Associated Press for a 3-under 67 as McDow- end in a three-way tie for Johnson made an eagle-3
ell saved par on No. 17. third place on 9 under, with on No. 4, yet carded only
KING ABDULLAH ECONOM- — Graeme McDowell shot McDowell sank his 5-footer Thomas Pieters (65) and one more birdie until his
IC CITY, Saudi Arabia (AP) a steady even-par 70 to to par the 18th and secure Gavin Green (70). flourish on the final hole. q