DAVID LYNN PIPPED BY DEREK ERNST IN PLAY-OFF AT QUAIL HOLLOW

FROM THE DAILY TELEGRAPH WEBSITE
By JAMES CORRIGAN 
England's David Lynn was denied a dream maiden victory on the US PGA Tour on Sunday after losing to the unheralded American David Ernst in a play-off at the Wells Fargo Championship, Quail Hollow.

Ernst was fourth reserve at the start of the week and only played because of all the withdrawals, which came due to the awful state of the greens in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Ranked 1,207th in the world, Ernst, a 500-1 outsider at the start of the event, was one of the most unlikely winners in golf’s history - and for that reason Lynn might be kicking himself.

Yet, in finishing runner-up in terrible conditions, the Stoke golfer ensured that he will retain his US Tour card as well as securing a berth in all the majors for the foreseeable future by re-entering the world’s top 50.

As a 22-year-old rookie who had missed five cuts out of his last seven events, Ernst is a fairytale success. Certainly when Lynn played the last on his way to a 70 for an eight-under total, he wasn’t thinking about Ernst as the danger until his partner hit to four-feet on that treacherous par-four to tie his total.

At that stage Phil Mickelson was one ahead, but the left-hander proceeded to bogey the 16th and 17th. So two of the rank outsiders went back, in the pouring rain, to the 18th tee to see who would collect the near £800,000 prize.

Lynn made a total hash of the sudden-death shoot-out, almost finding the water hazard with his drive, missing the green with his recovery and then pitching over the back of the putting surface. With Ernst safely on in two, Lynn needed to chip in. He had done so three times in the tournament, including on the 16th in regulation. But it was not to be and the wait goes on for Lynn’s first win since 2004.

He was also playing with Lee Westwood, who joined Mickelson in the lead after birdieing the 10th. But back-to-back bogeys on the 12th and 13th essentially ended his challenge. 
Westwood, who has been suffering from a chest infection, eventually signed for a level par to emulate his finish from last year, a tie for fifth, on six-under.
Rory McIlroy endured a wretched weekend as his 73-73 finish left him down in a tie for 10th on four-under.
The Ulsterman will take great hope from his ball-striking, however, and, at the very least, will be optimistic of laying to rest his Sawgrass curse. He played The Players three times and missed the cut every time. 

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