Monday, March 19, 2012

GOLF: Donald back atop world rankings

One great round. One solid swing out of the rough. One clutch birdie putt.

That's what Luke Donald needed to win the Transitions Championship in a playoff and get back to No. 1 in the world.

Donald was starting to feel overlooked in the two weeks since Rory McIlroy replaced him atop the world ranking, and he even allowed a few doubts about his game to creep into his head.

That changed on a steamy Sunday at Innisbrook, where Donald closed with a 5-under 66 and won a four-man playoff on the first extra hole with a 7-iron out of the rough to 6 feet below the cup for birdie to beat Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Bae Sang-Moon.

"I think people thought that my last year was maybe a little bit more of a ... not a fluke, but I don't think many people thought I could do that all over again this year," Donald said. "Hopefully, I can prove them wrong."

Donald, with his fifth win in his last 31 starts around the world, went back to No. 1 and will stay there until he gets to Augusta National and tries to capture his first major championship.

Garrigus birdied the last two holes for a 64 and was the first to finish on 13-under 271, which turned out to be enough for the playoff. Bae, the South Korean with the fluid swing, made a 6-foot par putt on the final hole for a 68. Furyk had a 69 and was the last one to join the four-man playoff.

Missing from the group was Ernie Els, whose bogey-bogey finish cost him a chance not only to win but maybe a trip to the Masters.

Els could have secured a Masters invitation by winning. Because he tied for fifth, he only moved to No. 62 in the world. Bay Hill does not have as strong of a field, which means Els might have to win next week or the Houston Open to get back to Augusta National.

"It's going to be tough," he said. "I'm pretty hot now, and it's difficult to talk with a straight head here. If I take stock, I think I'm playing good golf, and I've got to head into the next couple of weeks trying to get a win."

Scott Piercy, who finished his 62 before the leaders teed off, joined Els (67), Ken Duke (68) and Jeff Overton (66) in a tie for fifth.

Champions Tour

NEWPORT BEACH - Loren Roberts shot a 69 to win the Toshiba Classic by two strokes over Mark Calcavecchia, Tom Kite and Bernhard Langer.

Roberts made a 5-foot birdie putt on the final hole to ensure the victory after bogeys on three of the previous four holes.

Roberts began the day two strokes behind Calcavecchia, but made birdies on three of his first four holes. Even with a bogey on the seventh hole, Roberts was able to maintain a two-stroke lead, until the 16th hole. He missed a 3-foot par putt on 16 after his second shot hit a spectator box.

The victory was Roberts' 13th and was worth $262,500. His last victory was in 2010, a 34-tournament span.

LPGA Tour

PHOENIX - Yani Tseng two-putted for par from 40 feet in fading light to hold off Ai Miyazato and Na Yeon Choi by a stroke in the Founders Cup.

The top-ranked Taiwanese star, who earned $225,000, won her 14th tour title and second in four events this year. She closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 18 under.

The second-ranked Choi also shot 68, and Miyazato had a 69.

Tseng, three strokes behind Miyazato at the turn, birdied five of the first six holes on the back nine and closed with three pars.

Because of lightning near the Wildfire Golf Club, play was delayed three times for a total of three hours. Azusa's Lizette Salas, playing in her first LPGA event, tied for 22nd at 6-under 282. She won $15,230.

European Tour

MARBELLA, Spain - Julien Quesne tied the course record with an 8-under 64 to win the Andalucian Open for his first tour victory.

The 31-year-old birdied four of his final five holes to finish at 17 under and won by two strokes over Matteo Manassero of Italy (68).

"This is the best day of my life. I have been dreaming of this moment since I was 10," Quesne said. "It was not easy, you know. Matteo, Miguel (Angel Jimenez), Eduardo de la Riva, they all played good.

"I asked my caddie all the time since (No.) 15, and I knew that if I holed my putt on 18 I would have a good chance. So I am very proud that I won shooting a 64, finishing with a birdie on 18, the toughest hole on the course.

"I will remember this day for the rest of my life."

Quesne, who has been to tour's qualifying seven times, also earned a one-year tour exemption and qualified for November's WGC-Champions event at Millions Hills in China along with a start in next year's Volvo Champions.

Jimenez, the tournament host who was looking to become the oldest winner on the European Tour, carded a 71 to finish 11 under.