Page 20 - ARUBA TODAY

A20 SPORTS
Monday 20 March 2017
Late eagle carries Leishman to victory at Bay Hill

DOUG FERGUSON of bogeys and then three-
AP Golf Writer putted for par on the 16th
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — and made bogey from the
Marc Leishman kept shift- back bunker on the 17th.
ing his eyes toward the “I had it right there in the
glare coming from the palm of my hand to win,
silver Arnold Palmer Invi- and I didn’t get it done,”
tational trophy at his side. Kisner said.
Beyond the shiny prize, be- Rory McIlroy had as good
tween two images of Palm- a chance as anyone,
er, was a black banner storming into a share of the
with six words that defined lead by hooking a wedge
how Palmer approached around a tree, over the
the game. water and over the green
“You must play boldly to on the 16th, then nearly
win.” holing the eagle chip. He
Leishman followed that had a 30-foot birdie putt to
script Sunday to a one-shot tie for the lead on the 18th,
victory at Bay Hill. and after seeing that Leish-
He didn’t flinch over three man had made eagle on
key par putts over the last the 16th, gave it a good
four holes. And even after run.
his most disappointing shot The putt went 8 feet by
down the stretch, a 9-iron and three-putt for a 69 to
on the par-5 16th hole that finish two shots back.
settled 50 feet away from Graeme McDowell, left, of Northern Ireland, and Sam Saunders, right, grandson of Arnold Palmer, “These things happen,”
the flag, the 33-year-old help put a sweater on Marc Leishman, of Australia, during the trophy presentation after winning McIlroy said. “But I’m
the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, March 19, 2017.
Australian knocked it in for Associated Press pleased with how I went.
an eagle that allowed him Ten under for the weekend
to jump past Rory McIlroy, The occasion was no less shock syndrome. Doctors the purse to $8.7 million, around here is good scor-
Kevin Kisner and Char- joyous. Leishman’s final act put her in a coma to help meaning Leishman won ing, and I can take a lot
ley Hoffman into the lead was a 45-yard pitch from fight the infection. $1,566,000 — just $295,857 of positives from it going
alone. short of the 18th green that “It’s been a wild ride and it less than what Palmer won into next week.”Leishman
He never gave back, and ran out to 3 feet, a putt that makes golf ... I want to do in his PGA Tour career. was lurking all day, and
no one could catch him. looked a lot closer when he it well, but it makes it less Leishman finished at 11-un- a 6-foot putt to save par
The timing couldn’t have saw the replay on televi- important. It’s not life and der 277. from a bunker on the 15th
been better for Leishman, sion. death,” Leishman said. Kisner and Hoffman, tied kept his hopes going. The
except at the end. He calmly knocked that in “It’s just great to be able to for the 54-hole lead, each turning point came on the
“It’s sad not to have him for a 3-under 69. share this with someone.” closed with a 73 and had par-5 16th, playing only
up there walking off the Onto the green ran his two The oldest boy, Harvey, their chances. 515 yards with the wind,
18th green, to be that first sons, ages 5 and 3, as wife kept asking him when he Kisner had a three-shot and Leishman’s tee shot
guy to walk off and not be Audrey waited for him. Just was going to bring home lead at the turn, but he left him only a 9-iron to the
greeted by Arnold Palm- two years ago, Leishman the trophy. This was a big didn’t make a birdie over green that he tugged to
er,” Leishman said. “But worried he wouldn’t have one. his last 11 holes. Hoffman the left.
he’s left such a great lega- her. He was called away To honor Palmer, who died shot 39 on the front nine, Standing over the putt, he
cy, and I’m sure he will be during practice at Augus- in September, the PGA rallied to get back into a backed off and recalled
proud of how everything ta National upon learning Tour now awards a three- share of the lead when the same putt from a prac-
has gone this week.” his wife was suffering toxic year exemption and raised Kisner faltered with a pair tice round Tuesday. q

Anna Nordqvist wins Founders

Cup in college homecoming

JOHN NICHOLSON and In Gee Chun by two 66.
AP Sports Writer strokes in record 96-degree Nordqvist won her seventh
PHOENIX (AP) — Anna heat at Desert Ridge. LPGA Tour title and first since
Nordqvist caught up with Nordqvist finished at successfully defending the
some college friends — 25-under 263, two strokes off ShopRite LPGA Classic title
and left everyone else the LPGA Tour record that last June.
behind on another hot Sei Young Kim matched In the U.S. Women’s Open
afternoon at the Bank of last year at Desert Ridge. in July, she lost a three-
Hope Founders Cup. The 6-foot Swede had a hole playoff to Brittany
The 29-year-old former tournament-record 61 on Lang after being penalized
Arizona State player Saturday to take a two- two strokes for touching
shot a 4-under 68 on stroke lead into the final the sand with her club in
Anna Nordqvist, of Sweden, tees off on the eighth tee during Sunday to hold off fellow round. a fairway bunker on the
the final round of a LPGA golf tournament on Sunday, March 19, major champions Ariya Jutanugarn and Lewis also second extra hole.q
2017, in Phoenix, Ariz. Jutanugarn, Stacy Lewis shot 68, and Chun had a
Associated Press