ORLANDO, Fla. – Vijay Singh launched a 7-iron into the air and over the water, then posed as it descended toward the flag on the 18th green Sunday in what looked like a fitting conclusion to his return as No. 1 in the world.
All he wanted was the trophy at the Bay Hill Invitational.
Singh had to settle for the No. 1 ranking.
Kenny Perry emerged the winner in a dramatic finish at Arnold Palmer’s tournament, surviving a late charge by Singh that ended when his gutsy shot came up short, crashing against the rocks and into the lake for a double bogey.
“It looked like it was going to fly right next to the hole,” Perry said. “From my angle you’re thinking, Man, that looks perfect.’ And then to see it … I was stunned.”
No longer needing to match Singh’s aggressive play, Perry hit safely to the middle of the green some 70 feet away, lagged to 2 feet and closed with a 2-under 70 for a two-shot victory over Singh (69) and Graeme McDowell (66).
Johnson wins Toshiba
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – Former California amateur star Mark Johnson won in just his 14th start on the Champions Tour, shooting a 1-under 70 on Sunday for a four-stroke victory in the Toshiba Senior Classic. The 50-year-old Johnson, the qualifying tournament winner known as the “Beer Man” because he drove a Budweiser truck for 18 years before turning pro, had a 13-under 200 total on the Newport Beach Country Club course.
Sorenstam wins 4 straight
SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN, Ariz. – Annika Sorenstam won her fourth straight LPGA Tour start, making up four strokes in the last three holes and then beating Lorena Ochoa on the first hole of a playoff in the Safeway International on Sunday.
The victory – the 58th of Sorenstam’s LPGA Tour career – was her second in two events this year and sixth in her last eight tournaments.
Casey beats McGinley
BEIJING – England’s Paul Casey made a 20-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole Sunday to beat Paul McGinley of Ireland and win the TCL Classic. Casey, who shared the third-round lead with defending champion Colin Montgomerie of Scotland and Thailand’s Chawalit Plaphol, shot a 6-under 66 in the final round.
But McGinley was able to force a playoff by shooting a course-record 9-under 63, tying Casey at 22 under for the tournament in this resort city.
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