CROMWELL, Conn. — Marc Leishman shot an 8-under-par 62 on Sunday in the Travelers Championship, then went back to the clubhouse to eat, watch some soccer and wait to see where he would finish.
More than two hours later, after Charley Hoffman blew a two-stroke lead on the final two holes, Leishman was hoisting his first championship trophy on the PGA Tour.
“I think Charley was on the 15th when I turned the golf on,” Leishman said. “I watched that, then just went over and hit some balls and putted for a bit and it turned out well.”
Leishman, a 28-year-old Australian, began the day six strokes behind the leaders, but made eight birdies in a bogey free round. He finished at 14-under 266.
“I didn’t think it was going to be enough,” he said. “Golf is a funny game, a really funny game.”
Hoffman was 16 under heading to the 17th hole, but pushed his tee shot right and into the water. He made a double bogey, and bogeyed the 18th after failing to get up and down from a green side bunker.
“When it’s said and done, obviously a bad finish and a bad taste in my mouth, but you learn from it,” Hoffman said. “Any time you put yourself in contention, you learn from that.”
Hoffman closed with a 66 to tie for second with Masters champion Bubba Watson, who shot a 65.
Leishman became the fifth player in seven years to break through with their first tour victory at River Highlands - joining Fredrik Jacobson last year, Watson in 2010, Hunter Mahan in 2007 and J.J. Henry in 2006.
Leishman’s 62 was the lowest score in a final round by a champion on tour this season.
“You’d almost rather make a few birdies coming in to win, rather than have someone hand it to you,” he said. “But having said that, I’m not going to give this back or anything.”
Hoffman seemed to be in command standing on the 17th tee, and still had a chance to win on 18. He put his tee shot onto a hill to the right and he put his second shot into the bunker. He ran that shot long and missed a 17-foot par putt.
Watson made a run at the lead on the front nine with four birdies. But he had to scramble on the back nine, saving par on the 15th after putting his tee shot in the water. He also made par on 17 after hitting his second shot over the water and onto the green from the rough.
“Just didn’t finish it off on the back,” he said. “I made my run and just didn’t kind of really have anything after that.”
Ken Duke (Arkadelphia, Henderson State) shot 67 and finished tied for 47th at 4 under. He earned $14,585. Bryce Molder (Conway) shot 74 and finished tied for 64th at 1 under. He earned $12,600.
EUROPEAN TOUR
Willett rules in playoff
PULHEIM, Germany - Danny Willett of England won his first European Tour title after beating Marcus Fraser of Australia in a playoff at the BMW International Open on Sunday.
Willett shot a final-round 73 for an 11-under 277 to finish with a share of the lead with Fraser, who shot a last day 71 in rainy conditions.
Willett then sealed his first tour victory in 106 starts at the fourth extra hole with a par when Fraser made bogey.
John Daly (Dardanelle, Arkansas Razorbacks) shot 73 and finished tied for 60th at 3 over, earning $6,645.
NATIONWIDE TOUR
Wittenberg adds victory
WICHITA, Kan. - Casey Wittenberg won the Wichita Open on Sunday for his second Nationwide Tour victory of the season, closing with a 5-underpar 66 for a two-stroke victory over Justin Hicks and Jim Herman.
Wittenberg, also the Louisiana Open winner, finished at 18-under 266 at Crestview Country Club. He tied for 10th last week in the U.S. Open.
Wittenberg earned $108,000 to jump from 10th to second on the money list with $240,019. The final top 25 will earn 2013 PGA Tour cards. He also could earn an immediate promotion with a third victory.
Hicks shot a 67, and Herman had a 70.
Scott Gardiner (Farmington) shot 65 and finished tied for fourth ($23,625) at 13 under. David Lingmerth (Fayetteville) shot 66 and Tag Ridings (Arkansas Razorbacks) shot 69 to finish tied for 15th at 10 under ($9,000 each). Glen Day (Little Rock) shot 69 and finished tied for 36th at 7 under ($3,180). Ron Whittaker (Little Rock) shot 72 and finished tied for 40th ($2,505).
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Calcavecchia cruises
SAINTE-JULIE, Quebec - Mark Calcavecchia won the Montreal Championship on Sunday for his second Champions Tour title, matching the course record with an 8-underpar 64 for a four-stroke victory.
Calcavecchia, 52, had six birdies and chipped in for eagle on the par-5 16th hole on Richelieu Valley’s Vercheres Course. He finished at 16-under 200.
Brad Bryant shot a 65 to finish second. Second-round leader Bob Tway and first-round leader Russ Cochran tied for third at 11 under. Cochran closed with a 68, and Tway had a 70.
Leaderboard
TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP At TPC River Highlands Cromwell, Conn.
Par: 70, 6,841 yards, Purse: $6.5 million Final Marc Leishman......68-66-70-62-266 Charley Hoffman....67-67-67-66-267 Bubba Watson.......66-71-65-65-267 Tim Clark...............66-69-66-67-268 Brian Davis............67-67-64-70-268 John Rollins..........68-67-65-68-268 Roland Thatcher.....66-67-65-70-268 Arkansans Ken Duke................67-69-73-67-276 Bryce Molder..........71-67-67-74-279 - Complete results, 6C
Sports, Pages 13 on 06/25/2012