Willie Wood finally records a victory and takes the d**k's Sporting Goods Open title home
In a day full of tough competition on the top, American Willie Wood was able to outclass his compatriot Michael Allen with a par putt on the first playoff hole of the d**k's Sporting Goods Open, on August 19, to claim his first win of the year on the Champions
Tour.
Wood got off to a confident start and birdied two of the opening three holes. However, a double bogey on the fourth hole offset his under-par score and he was back on level par.
He then managed to add another three birdies to his scorecard. Through 17 holes, he was one behind the leader and two-time winner this year, Michael Allen.
Wood’s 35-foot birdie on the final hole allowed him to extend the game to the playoffs, where he outshined his opponent to take the title home.
It was an easy win in the end for the 51-year-old, as he only needed a par putt on the first extra hole, after Allen’s tee shot found the water hazard, followed by stroke that found a bunker on the fairway.
“We went back to 18. I won the tee, hit it in the fairway, hit a nice drive. Then Michael pulled it and it went in the water,” he said.
“I had 149 -- he actually hit next and he hit it into the bunker. Okay, now I just need par really I felt like, hit it right on target left of the pin, very good shot, 15 feet, and I just lagged it down to a couple inches from the hole”.
It was Wood’s first ever win since he won the PGA Tour’s Deposit Guaranty Golf Classic in 1996. The victory also earned him $270,000 and charged him to the 28th place in the Charles Schwab Cup standings.
“Well, I've worked very, very hard to get back to playing good again,” he said. “I knew I was playing good coming in. I've played fairly well this year in the tournaments that I've played in”.
Meanwhile, the overnight leader John Huston faltered in the final round and slipped down to the tied 21st position with a five-over par 77 final round score.
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