Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Tuesday 9 May 2017
Harman’s clutch birdie denies Johnson 4th straight win

DOUG FERGUSON Johnson, the world’s No. 1 In between was a three-
AP Golf Writer player, and Harman. putt from the par-3 15th
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — “Hell of an up-and-down that he thought would cost
Dustin Johnson was in the from back there,” Perez him. “Knew it was going to
clubhouse, tied for the lead said. “He deserves it. He be tough to birdie those
and poised for a chance played great.” last couple,” Harman said.
to join an elite class with Perez moves to No. 42 in “But I stuck to my game
a fourth straight PGA Tour the world ranking, which plan and just did it. Did the
victory. Brian Harman was makes him a lock to be best I could.”
on the last tee, knowing exempt from U.S. Open And it was just enough.
a birdie on the par-5 18th qualifying. Harman gets Johnson was playing for
would be enough to win back to the Masters, and the first time in six weeks
the Wells Fargo Champion- he doesn’t mind having to because of his slip down
ship. Harman could have wait 11 months for a return the stairs the day before
drawn it up differently, but to Augusta National. the Masters that led to him
not any better. Jon Rahm of Spain was in pulling out. A quick start al-
Switching from a 5-wood to the mix, too. Rahm, one lowed him to lurk behind
a 3-wood for his 271-yard of five players who had at the leaders all day, and he
shot in the 18th, he went so Brian Harman holds up the trophy on the 18th hole of the Wells least a share of the lead holed a 15-foot birdie putt
Fargo Championship golf tournament at Eagle Point Golf Club
long that he needed relief in Wilmington, N.C., Sunday, May 7, 2017. on the back nine, watched on the 18th that gave him
from a corporate chalet. Associated Press from the 18th fairway as a share of the lead.
His chip became harder the crowd that surrounded Then, he was alone in the
because of tree limbs that a hug with his caddie, Scott off, so I didn’t really know the hole and filled all three lead when others started
made him go low, and his Tway, for a victory that was what to expect this week levels of a hospitality chalet to stumble — Perez with a
chip came out soft and a long time coming. because I didn’t really get erupted in cheers. He knew double bogey on No. 14,
barely got onto the green. Harman won for the first to practice leading into he needed an eagle — just Harman with the three-putt
And then he rolled in a 30- time in nearly three years. this tournament, either,” like the one he made at bogey on the 15th and Pat-
foot birdie putt for a 4-un- For Johnson, playing for the Johnson said. “Not much Torrey Pines for his first PGA rick Reed, the 54-hole lead-
der 68 and a one-shot vic- first time since a freak ac- has changed. The first cou- Tour victory — to force er who made four bogeys
tory Sunday over Johnson cident knocked him out of ple days I didn’t play that a playoff. He was pos- in a six-hole stretch on the
and Pat Perez. the Masters, it was the first great, but really played ing. And it sailed over the back nine.
“I didn’t hit a great chip. It time in nearly three months nicely on Saturday and green, leading to par and Reed shot 40 on the back
didn’t turn out very good,” that he left a PGA Tour Sunday and so I’m happy a 71 to finish alone in fourth. nine for a 75 and fell out of
Harman said. “But I guess event without the trophy. with where the game is go- Lost in Harman’s long birdie the top 10. He played in the
it went where it was sup- It wasn’t from a lack of try- ing into next week.” putt for the victory were final group with Alex Noren
posed to.” ing. Johnson made the cut Perez did his part, bounc- two shots that led to that of Sweden, who closed
The greens at Eagle Point on the number, and then ing back from a double bo- moment — an 8-iron from with a 77.
were so pure that Harman went 67-67 on the week- gey on the 14th hole that 176 yards to 3 feet on the Johnson was trying to join
knew it was good when end, including a 15-foot took him out of the lead by 14th for a tap-in birdie, and Byron Nelson, Tiger Woods,
the ball was 5 feet from birdie putt on the final hole, making birdies on the 16th the pitching wedge from Ben Hogan and Jack Burke
the cup. He turned and to nearly pull out another and 18th holes for a 68 that 137 yards on the 17th hole Jr. as the only players with
pumped his arms in a wild victory. he thought might be good to 4 feet that put him in po- at least four straight PGA
celebration that ended in “I didn’t have a lot of time enough for a playoff with sition for the victory. Tour victories.q
Bouchard players out on the court,”
Continued from Page 17 Sharapova said. “Every-
thing that surrounds my-
“I definitely had some ex- Sharapova for the first time self, I don’t pay attention
tra motivation going into by taking advantage of the to much of it. I’ve been
today,” Bouchard said. “I Russian’s 49 unforced errors part of this game for many
was actually quite inspired and struggles on serve, in- years. I know what the drill
before the match because cluding nine double faults. is.”
I had a lot of players com- The 60th-ranked Canadian There were a few long
ing up to me privately wish- had 21 break opportunities, stares and some loud
ing me good luck, players converting five of them. cheers by the players after
I don’t normally speak to, The Madrid Open is only some points.
getting a lot of texts from the second tournament Sharapova won the first
people in the tennis world for Sharapova since serv- game with a powerful
that were just rooting for ing a 15-month suspen- shot straight at Bouchard’s
me. So I wanted to do it for sion. The five-time Grand body at the net, forcing
myself, but also all these Slam champion reached Bouchard to protect her-
people. I really felt support. the Stuttgart semifinals last self. The Canadian deflect-
“It showed me that most month. She received a Eugenie Bouchard from Canada, left, shakes hands with Maria ed the ball with her racket
people have my opinion, wild card there, and a wild Sharapova from Russia at the end of their Madrid Open tennis and lost the point.
and they were just maybe card here. Most players tournament match in Madrid, Spain, Monday, May 8, 2017. In a tense game near
Associated Press
scared to speak out.” were against her receiving the end of the first set,
There were no major signs of free entry without having to “It definitely helps when you about tennis. We both did Sharapova was frustrat-
animosity between them. qualify. can back it up,” Bouchard that. We just battled our ed after Bouchard won
They went about their busi- Bouchard had not backed said. “Obviously, there was hearts out.” a point with a ball that
ness, not paying too much off her comments, and said a lot going on besides ten- Sharapova said she didn’t changed directions from a
attention to each other in she was looking forward to nis in this match. As soon as need extra motivation to net cord. Bouchard turned
between points. playing Sharapova, the I stepped on the court, I re- play against anybody. around without directly
Bouchard defeated 2014 Madrid champion. ally just wanted to make it “I’m just one of the two apologizing.q