Duke captures first PGA title, Els adds to his European collections
Source: AFP |
June 25, 2013, Tuesday
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KEN Duke sank a two-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole on Sunday to defeat fellow American Chris Stroud and win the US$6.1 million Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, for his first US PGA title.
The 44-year-old from Hope, Arkansas - hometown of former US President Bill Clinton - took the US$1.08 million top prize and became the oldest first-time US PGA Tour winner since Ed Dougherty won his only title at age 47 in 1995.
"I worked hard, I have knocked on the door a lot and here we are," Duke said. "That's what it's all about."
Duke had been a runner-up three times in PGA events - at New Orleans in 2007 and Milwaukee and the Ginn sur Mer Classic in 2008.
Stroud, a 31-year-old Texan whose best prior PGA finish was a share of fourth at the 2011 Mayakoba Classic in Mexico, sank a 48-foot chip shot for a birdie at the 18th on the last hole of regulation play to force a playoff.
Duke and Stroud both finished 72 holes on 12-under par 268. Duke fired a final-round 66, five-under par, while Stroud shot 67.
The playoff began at the 18th tee and Duke found the left rough, but blasted a wedge shot pin high onto the green.
Stroud, whose tee shot was in the fairway 92 yards from the cup, then dumped his approach into a greenside bunker.
In Munich, Germany, Ernie Els of South Africa won the BMW International Open by one shot on Sunday for his 28th European Tour title.
After sharing a three-way lead overnight, Els shot a third straight 3-under 69 in the final round to finish 18-under 270 on the Eichenried Golf Club course.
Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (69) was second at 17 under and Frenchman Alexander Levy (71) finished another stroke off the pace in third for his best finish.
Els, a two-time winner at both the US Open and British Open, led after the first and second rounds.
"To keep the lead all the way through is quite a lot of pressure so it's been a good week," said Els, the first South African and also the oldest player to win the BMW International Open in the competition's 25th edition.
"I'm a very young 43-year-old. There's not a younger 43-year-old, I promise," he joked.
"When you get to my age, when you get a win, it's a wonderful feeling. Hopefully it gives me the confidence that I needed," said Els, who tied for fourth at the US Open.
The 44-year-old from Hope, Arkansas - hometown of former US President Bill Clinton - took the US$1.08 million top prize and became the oldest first-time US PGA Tour winner since Ed Dougherty won his only title at age 47 in 1995.
"I worked hard, I have knocked on the door a lot and here we are," Duke said. "That's what it's all about."
Duke had been a runner-up three times in PGA events - at New Orleans in 2007 and Milwaukee and the Ginn sur Mer Classic in 2008.
Stroud, a 31-year-old Texan whose best prior PGA finish was a share of fourth at the 2011 Mayakoba Classic in Mexico, sank a 48-foot chip shot for a birdie at the 18th on the last hole of regulation play to force a playoff.
Duke and Stroud both finished 72 holes on 12-under par 268. Duke fired a final-round 66, five-under par, while Stroud shot 67.
The playoff began at the 18th tee and Duke found the left rough, but blasted a wedge shot pin high onto the green.
Stroud, whose tee shot was in the fairway 92 yards from the cup, then dumped his approach into a greenside bunker.
In Munich, Germany, Ernie Els of South Africa won the BMW International Open by one shot on Sunday for his 28th European Tour title.
After sharing a three-way lead overnight, Els shot a third straight 3-under 69 in the final round to finish 18-under 270 on the Eichenried Golf Club course.
Thomas Bjorn of Denmark (69) was second at 17 under and Frenchman Alexander Levy (71) finished another stroke off the pace in third for his best finish.
Els, a two-time winner at both the US Open and British Open, led after the first and second rounds.
"To keep the lead all the way through is quite a lot of pressure so it's been a good week," said Els, the first South African and also the oldest player to win the BMW International Open in the competition's 25th edition.
"I'm a very young 43-year-old. There's not a younger 43-year-old, I promise," he joked.
"When you get to my age, when you get a win, it's a wonderful feeling. Hopefully it gives me the confidence that I needed," said Els, who tied for fourth at the US Open.
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