Perry survives, wins playoff

Source: Agencies | February 3, 2009, Tuesday |

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KENNY Perry finally beat Charley Hoffman in a playoff on Sunday, making a 22-foot birdie putt on the third extra hole in the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Arizona.

After Perry bogeyed the final hole of regulation to set up the playoff, the two bogeyed and parred the first two extra holes. Perry then rolled in the long putt on the 332-yard, par-4 17th to end the second straight playoff in the event.

"The playoff was ugly," Perry said. "We were hitting it everywhere, having to scramble from all over the place."

Perry closed with a 2-under 69 to match Hoffman (67) at 14-under 270 at TPC Scottsdale. It was the 13th PGA Tour victory for Perry, the 48-year-old American who won three times last year and played on the winning US Ryder Cup team.

"It feels kind of funny playing with all these young kids nowadays," Perry said. "But to me, this was a place I felt like I could always win."

Kevin Na (68) finished third at 13 under. Na rallied from six strokes back, but missed an 8-foot putt on the 18th hole that would have put him in the playoff.

Perry blew a chance to win it in regulation. Leading by a stroke, all Perry needed was a par on the 18th, a hole he birdied twice and parred once this week. But he drove into a fairway bunker and had to settle for a bogey 5.

That set up the playoff.

The playoff opened at the 438-yard, par-4 18th, and Hoffman and Perry hit into bunkers for bogeys.

"Kenny gave me a few opportunities, I gave him a few opportunities, and he happened to close the door," said Hoffman, who has one PGA Tour victory, the 2007 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.

Meanwhile, new Dubai Desert Classic champion Rory McIlroy is destined for golfing greatness, according to European Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie.

The 19-year-old from Holywood, Northern Ireland, showed he was born for the big stage when he won his first European Tour title at the Emirates Golf Club on Sunday.

"We have a superstar here in the making," Montgomerie told Sky Sports television.

"Along with Alvaro Quiros and Martin Kaymer we have some fantastic talent coming through in Europe and Rory, right now, is at the head of that group."

Golf

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Perry survives, wins playoff

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