Sunday, 13 November 2011

Chalmers Holds Off Tiger in Oz Open


Australian Greg Chalmers earned a one-shot win at the Australian Open on Sunday, 13 years after his previous victory at the event.

The Sydney-born left-hander closed with a three-under 69 for a final total of 13-under-par, one better than overnight leader John Senden and two ahead of a charging Tiger Woods.

Chalmers birdied his opening two holes at the Lakes Golf Club and added a third at the seventh, immediately bouncing back from his first bogey at the previous hole.

Another dropped shot at the ninth menat he went to the turn in 34 but that was only a minor setback as two more birdies, including the clincher at the par-three 15th followed by three closing pars, ensured the 38-year-old walked away with the title.

Senden, playing in the last group with Jason Day, needed to birdie the par-three 18th to force a play-off but could only manage par.

The damage, however, had really been done on the front nine when Senden's run of four bogeys in five holes from the second saw him lose the lead to Chalmers.

He hauled himself back into contention with birdies at the 11th, 13th, 14th, and 17th but in the end his level-par 72 saw hime come up just short of a repeat of his 2006 victory in this event.
Woods revival

Former world number one Woods, meanwhile, compiled a 67 including five birdies and an eagle to finish alone in third at 11-under-par.

Woods, searching for his first title for two years, had led the tournament at the halfway stage before falling off the pace with a third-round 75.

But the American finished strongly to ensure he has plenty of positives to take into next week's Presidents Cup in Melbourne.

Another who will head to the Presidents Cup in good heart is Geoff Ogilvy after he produced the low round of the day on Sunday, a seven-under 65, to take a share of fourth alongside four others.

Ogilvy's fellow Australians Day (74), Nick O'Hern (72), Adam Scott (68), and American Nick Watney (72) all finished on nine-under-par overall.