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A18 SPORTS
Monday 3 april 2017

Henley rallies to win Houston Open, earn trip to Masters

HUMBLE, Texas (AP) — Rus- to win the Houston Open
sell Henley no longer gets and earn a trip to the Mas-
to take a week off, and he ters.
couldn’t be happier. Kang, going for his first PGA
He’s going to the Masters. Tour victory, had a six-shot
Henley overcame a four- lead after 36 holes, the
shot deficit Sunday in the largest in tournament his-
Houston by closing with a tory. He appeared to get
7-under 65 for a three-shot a slight reprieve Saturday
victory, one of the most when Fowler fell back with
important final rounds of a four-putt double bogey
his career. Only later did on the 18th hole of the third
he realize it might have his round.
best. The threat turned out to
He made 10 birdies. He be Henley, one of the best
never went more than two putters in golf when he gets
holes without a birdie. it going.
“I made 10 birdies today?” Kang did his best to hang
he asked. “Oh, wow. Wow. on, but he never made an-
Yeah, then I guess it’s defi- other birdie after No. 8. His
nitely the best.” hopes were all but gone
Henley ran off five of them Russell Henley hits his tee shot on the ninth hole during the third round of the Houston Open golf when he missed a 5-foot
in the opening eight holes tournament, Saturday, April 1, 2017, in Humble, Texas. birdie attempt on No. 16.
to briefly catch up to Sung Associated Press “This week is going to be
Kang, only to make a dou- very memorable for me,”
ble bogey from the bun- up-and-down for birdie on cost me a few shots,” Fowl- the Masters for the second Kang said. “I played really
ker on the par-3 ninth at the par-5 15th. er said. “Nice that I got it straight year until winning solid the first few rounds
the Golf Club of Houston. He finished with a bogey turned around and started the Houston Open, the only and then it shifted for two
Only the 27-year-old from for 20-under 268, three to make some good swings way into Augusta National rounds. I’ll keep grind-
Georgia was just getting shots ahead of Kang. and made some birdies at this point. ing out and working out
warmed up. Rickie Fowler was never and fought back, got a “I wasn’t expecting to go and hopefully, I can get a
The decisive stretch came in the picture. He made a good finish out of it. Obvi- back to Augusta,” he said. chance next time.”
on the par-5 13th, where double bogey with a wild ously, yeah, I would have “I was planning on not go- The starting times were
Henley and Kang were drive on the second hole, like to have gotten off to a ing, but I was going to try moved up Sunday be-
tied for the lead. Hen- and then got hit driver off better start.” my best to win. So, the fact cause of the threat of rain,
ley pitched to 3 feet for the deck into the water Jon Rahm, the 22-year-old I get to go back is pretty and the final round fea-
birdie, while Kang missed on the par-5 fourth hole to rookie from Spain, closed cool and I’m excited. It tured dark, gray skies and a
from 15 feet. On the par-3 drop another shot. Fowler with a 67 and tied for 10th, hasn’t really sunk in yet.” drizzle, followed by steamy
14th, Henley rolled in a 35- trailed by as many as seven his fourth consecutive top Henley became the third sunshine as the leaders en-
foot birdie putt on the fast shots until a flurry of birdies 10 as he heads to Augusta player in the last four years tered the final stretch.q
greens, cut to try to mimic late in the round when it National for his Masters de-
what players will face at was out of reach. but. Jimenez beats Sauers in playoff
Augusta National. Kang Fowler closed with a 70 Henley won for the third
did well to save par from and tied for third, along time in his PGA Tour career, for back-to-back MGRC titles
6 feet. And then Henley with Luke List (68). and his first since a playoff
raced out to a three-shot “Just an alignment prob- victory over Rory McIlroy in BILOXI, Mississippi (AP) iard had a stunning double
advantage with another lem that just caused me to the 2014 Honda Classic. He — Miguel Angel Jimenez bogey on 18 to finish at
make a couple bad swings, was in danger of missing made a birdie putt on the 2-under 70 for the round.
first playoff hole to beat Sauers made par to force
Gene Sauers and win his the playoff, but his second
second consecutive Missis- shot on the playoff hole
sippi Gulf Resort Classic on found the bunker, and he
Sunday. couldn’t recover.
Jimenez looked as if he was Sauers started the final
going to win relatively eas- round with a one-shot lead
ily on Sunday, with a two- after a superb 63 on Satur-
shot lead going into No. 18 day, but shot a 71 on Sun-
at Fallen Oak. day to fall just short of his
budgetaruba@setarnet.aw But the 53-year-old Span- first victory of the season.