Australian Geoff Ogilvy led from start to finish to claim a six-shot victory in the Mercedes-Benz Championship on Sunday in Hawaii, overcoming a choppy start to the final round before closing with a 5-under 68.
Former US Open champion Ogilvy was on the verge of a collapse, his six-shot lead down to one as he stood in the ninth fairway, when he drilled his approach onto the green and holed a 20-foot eagle putt to steady his nerves and send him on his way to victory at Kapalua.
With four straight birdies on the back nine to restore the margin, he sailed home to join Ernie Els and Vijay Singh as the only wire-to-wire winners since the season-opening PGA Tour event moved to Kapalua in 1999.
"I enjoyed the last 2 1/2 hours more than I enjoyed the first two hours," Ogilvy said. "Once I got through nine, I really enjoyed every hole. I felt a lot better about everything."
Anthony Kim nearly made double eagle on the last hole for a 67 to tie for second with Davis Love III, who also had a 67.
It was the fifth PGA Tour victory for Ogilvy, adding to his US Open title in 2006 and a pair of World Golf Championships. He finished at 24-under 268, earned US$1.12 million and moved up to No. 6 in the world ranking.
"When Geoff plays well, it never looks like he's going to hit a bad shot," countryman Adam Scott said.
Ogilvy had made only one bogey in the first three rounds, but doubled that count after this first two holes on Sunday.
Ogilvy missed the fairway to the right on the opening hole and couldn't reach the green, missing an 18-foot par putt. He found a bunker with his tee shot on the second hole, blasted out to about 6 feet and missed that putt.
His lead was down to three shots over Kim, who birdied two of the first three holes.
"I've never had a six-shot lead before. It's a pretty uncomfortable feeling, to be honest with you," Ogilvy said. "I got to the green and saw I had a one-shot lead... and it felt like a normal tournament again. I just told myself, 'It's a great spot to be after 63 holes, get on with it.'"
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily January 13, 2009)
