GEORGE McNEILL BIRDIES LAST THREE TO WIN IN PUERTO RICO
FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- George McNeill birdied the last three holes for a 3-under 69 to move past Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and win the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com on Sunday.
Ishikawa, on the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that left his homeland in ruins, closed with a 68 and had a one-shot lead. McNeill caught him with a birdie on the 16th, took the lead with a birdie on the 17th and added another birdie on the par-5 18th.
"I was really nervous, but I knew what I had to do, and basically I just had to bear down and get it done," McNeill said. "If not, then somebody else was going to win. I was trying to basically have control of myself, and that's all I was looking for."
McNeill finished at 16-under 272 and earned $630,000 for his second career victory. He won the 2007 Frys.com Open in Las Vegas as a PGA TOUR rookie.
"I think I was a little dumb, for lack of a better word, in 2007," McNeill said. "I really didn't know any better. I've been out here a while now. It's my sixth year, and I've had six second-place finishes and two play-off losses, and seems like, wow, it's getting harder and harder and harder to win."
"Winning is tough at anything. Doesn't matter playing golf, playing tennis, trying to be the best person, smartest person in the class. It's not easy to be the best even if it's only for one week, and that's why it's tough. And you got to take in golf what you can and move on."
The 20-year-old Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, had his best US PGA Tour finish.
"I made three birdies in the last four holes, and it was a great experience for me to be very close to the winning experience," Ishikawa said. "It felt like dreaming sometimes. If I get the next chance, I will grab it for sure."
Ishikawa has earned $582,471 on the US Tour this season, surpassing the $411,943 -- No. 150 on the 2011 money list -- needed for special temporary membership. He has 60 days to join the tour as a special temporary member after becoming eligible and then he would be eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions this season.
"Still thinking," Ishikawa said about accepting the temporary membership. "Need some time to think about it, but that's the direction I'll be aiming for."
Henrik Stenson (71) and Boo Weekley (66) tied for third, three shots behind.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from US unless stated
272 George McNeill 66 70 67 69.
274 Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) 70 67 69 68.
275 Boo Weekley 70 68 71 66, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 69 65 71.
276 Scott Brown 69 72 65 70, Matt Jones (Australia) 66 67 72 71.
277 Daniel Summerhays 68 70 68 71, Kevin Tadler 69 69 66 73.
SELECTED TOTALS
279 Todd Hamilton 68 69 73 69 (T12)
280 Ben Curtis 67 73 68 72 (T14)
288 Brian Davis (England) 69 70 72 77 (T63)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico -- George McNeill birdied the last three holes for a 3-under 69 to move past Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa and win the Puerto Rico Open presented by seepuertorico.com on Sunday.
Ishikawa, on the anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that left his homeland in ruins, closed with a 68 and had a one-shot lead. McNeill caught him with a birdie on the 16th, took the lead with a birdie on the 17th and added another birdie on the par-5 18th.
"I was really nervous, but I knew what I had to do, and basically I just had to bear down and get it done," McNeill said. "If not, then somebody else was going to win. I was trying to basically have control of myself, and that's all I was looking for."
McNeill finished at 16-under 272 and earned $630,000 for his second career victory. He won the 2007 Frys.com Open in Las Vegas as a PGA TOUR rookie.
"I think I was a little dumb, for lack of a better word, in 2007," McNeill said. "I really didn't know any better. I've been out here a while now. It's my sixth year, and I've had six second-place finishes and two play-off losses, and seems like, wow, it's getting harder and harder and harder to win."
"Winning is tough at anything. Doesn't matter playing golf, playing tennis, trying to be the best person, smartest person in the class. It's not easy to be the best even if it's only for one week, and that's why it's tough. And you got to take in golf what you can and move on."
The 20-year-old Ishikawa, a nine-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, had his best US PGA Tour finish.
"I made three birdies in the last four holes, and it was a great experience for me to be very close to the winning experience," Ishikawa said. "It felt like dreaming sometimes. If I get the next chance, I will grab it for sure."
Ishikawa has earned $582,471 on the US Tour this season, surpassing the $411,943 -- No. 150 on the 2011 money list -- needed for special temporary membership. He has 60 days to join the tour as a special temporary member after becoming eligible and then he would be eligible for unlimited sponsor exemptions this season.
"Still thinking," Ishikawa said about accepting the temporary membership. "Need some time to think about it, but that's the direction I'll be aiming for."
Henrik Stenson (71) and Boo Weekley (66) tied for third, three shots behind.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 288 (4x72)
Players from US unless stated
272 George McNeill 66 70 67 69.
274 Ryo Ishikawa (Japan) 70 67 69 68.
275 Boo Weekley 70 68 71 66, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 69 65 71.
276 Scott Brown 69 72 65 70, Matt Jones (Australia) 66 67 72 71.
277 Daniel Summerhays 68 70 68 71, Kevin Tadler 69 69 66 73.
SELECTED TOTALS
279 Todd Hamilton 68 69 73 69 (T12)
280 Ben Curtis 67 73 68 72 (T14)
288 Brian Davis (England) 69 70 72 77 (T63)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: US PGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | Monday, March 12, 2012
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