Canada’s Stephen Ames came through a playoff against Justin Leonard and George McNeill to win the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World.
It was Ames’ fourth career PGA Tour victory and his first since taking this title back in 2007. The 45-year-old played an excellent closing round of 64 during which he coped manfully with the lightning fast greens on the Magnolia Course at Disney World.
He posted the clubhouse target then watched on as McNeill, Leonard, Nick O’Hern, Justin Rose and Mathias Gronberg failed to get past him.
Leonard looked like he would do it. On the 18th hole of regulation play he began pumping his fist in celebration as his birdie effort seemed destined for the cup. But it lipped out meaning three were tied on 18-under-par.
On the first extra hole, also the 18th, Leonard left his first putt woefully short then left his second putt short as well. A bogey five meant he was eliminated.
“To be this close and not be able to pull it out is disappointing,” Leonard said.
At the second extra hole, putting cost McNeill the title. He was left with a six-foot putt to force a third playoff hole but it horseshoed out of the cup and the title went to Ames.
“It made a full 360,” McNeill said. “It went down in the hole, and then it spit back out.”
Children’s Miracle Network Classic
Disney’s Magnolia & Palm Courses, Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Nov 12-15, purse $4,700,000, par 72
1 Stephen Ames (Can) 69 70 67 64 270 $846,000
T2 Justin Leonard (USA) 68 64 71 67 270 $413,600
T2 George McNeill (USA) 68 66 69 67 270 $413,600
T4 Nick O’Hern (Aus) 68 70 66 67 271 $206,800
T4 Justin Rose (Eng) 65 69 69 68 271 $206,800
6 Mathias Gronberg (Swe) 68 69 66 69 272 $169,200
T7 Brian Davis (Eng) 72 69 68 64 273 $151,575
T7 D.A Points (USA) 71 70 67 65 273 $151,575
T9 Zach Johnson (USA) 67 70 69 68 274 $131,600
T9 Carl Pettersson (Swe) 71 66 67 70 274 $131,600
Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist golf ball usage only