LAS VEGAS — In a swift and shocking finish, Jonathan Byrd won a three-man playoff Sunday with a hole-in-one on the fourth extra hole in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital Open.
Moments earlier, Byrd stood on the 18th green with Martin Laird and Cameron Percy as they discussed whether there was enough light to continue. They agreed to play one more hole - the 204-yard 17th at the TPC Summerlin.
And the playoff essentially ended with one swing.
It was too dark for Byrd to see his ball land about 10 feet short of the flag and roll into the cup, and even the cheers from a smattering of fans around the green weren’t convincing.
Almost as stunning was that Byrd remained in the playoff. On the third playoff hole, the par-4 18th, Byrd’s approach tumbled over the green and was one hop away from going into the water. Instead, it settled in a clump of grass, he chipped up to seven feet and made the par putt just to stay alive.
One swing later, he only had to wait for Laird and Percy to hit their shots - and they both hit into the water - to come up with his first win of the year.
Byrd was No. 117 on the money list going into Las Vegas, and his fourth career victory gives him a two-year exemption. He closed with a 68, and he had to watch four times - once in regulation, three times in a playoff - as Laird stood over a birdie putt with a chance to win. That sequence started in regulation, when Laird had a 30-foot birdie try. Laird, the defending champion, shot 69.
Percy, the Australian rookie who needed to win to keep his job on the PGA Tour, earlier holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 67 that allowed him to get into the playoff. They finished at 21-under 263.
Brenden Pappas (Arkansas Razorbacks) closed with a 72 to finish at 6-under 278 to earn $8,772. John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 78 and finished with a 2-over-286 to earn $8,342.
CHAMPIONS
Couples shoots 63
THE WOODLANDS, Texas - Fred Couples left Corey Pavin and everybody else way behind in the Administaff Small Business Classic, shooting a 9-under 63 for a seven-stroke victory.
Two strokes behind Pavin after 10 holes in the final round, Couples, 50, played the final eight in 7 under, making an eagle - his second of the round - and five birdies.
The former University of Houston star had only 24 putts in the final round. He finished at 17-under 199 on The Woodlands Country Club course and earned $255,000 for his fourth Champions Tour victory of the year.
Mark Wiebe (71) was second, Dan Forsman (66) and Brad Bryant (66) followed at 9 under, and Pavin (74) and John Cook (67) tied for fifth at 8 under.
LPGA
Kang edges Inkster
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Jimin Kang won the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia for her second LPGA Tour title, beating Juli Inkster by a stroke when the 50-yearold Hall of Famer bogeyed the final hole.
Kang, the 30-year-old South Korean player who went to high school in Edmonds, Wash., and starred at Arizona State, birdied the par-4 18th for a 6-under 65 and a 9-under total at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Inkster birdied Nos. 15-17 to take the lead, but couldn’t hold on in her bid to break the LPGA Tour age record of 46 years, 8 months set by Beth Daniel in the 2003 Canadian Women’s Open.
Inkster finished with her second straight 67. Sweden’s Maria Hjorth (71) and Japan’s Mika Miyazato (69) tied for third at 6 under. Kang also won the 2005 LPGA Corning Classic.
Stacy Lewis (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot a 71 to finish with a 1-under 212 and earn $30,430. Stacy Prammanasudh (Conway) finished with a 74 for a 6-over 219 to earn $7,965.
PGA EUROPEAN
Manassero closes strong
CASTELLON, Spain - Italy’s Matteo Manasserobecame the youngest champion in PGA European Tour history, winning the Castello Masters at 17 years, 188 days.
Manassero closed with a 4-under 67 for a four-stroke victory over Spain’s Ignacio Garrido. Manassero broke the record of 18 years, 133 days set by Danny Lee in the 2008 Johnnie Walker Championship.
NATIONWIDE
Mathis earns card
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - David Mathis closed with a 1-under 69 Sunday to win the Jacksonville Open on the Nationwide Tour, earning more than enough money to secure his return to the PGA Tour next year.
Mathis started the tournament at No. 35 on the money list, and the $108,000 for winning moved him up to No. 12. The top 25 earn PGA Tour cards, and the only tournament remaining is the Nationwide Tour Championship next week.
He finished at 8-under 272 for a one-shot victory over Won Joon Lee, Jeff Curl and Kyle Reifers. Curl was at No. 81 on the money list, and his runner-up finish moved him to No. 54, putting him into the 60-man field next week in the Tour Championship.
Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) closed with a 66 to finish with a 6-under 274 and earn $19,650 to move up to 14th on the money list. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) finished with a 69 for a 1-over 281 and earn $3,600, dropping to 22nd on the money list, still within the top 25.
Sports, Pages 22 on 10/25/2010