Tim Clark wins The Players Championship

South Africa’s Tim Clark fired a superb closing round of 67 to win The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass by a single shot over Robert Allenby of Australia.

Tim Clark
Fergus Bisset
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published

South Africa's Tim Clark fired a superb closing round of 67 to win The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass by a single shot over Robert Allenby of Australia.

It was a first PGA Tour victory for Clark after 204 starts on the circuit.

"A part of me is a bit disappointed because now no one is going to talk about me anymore," he said. "At least you had something to write about before. Now I'm just another guy with a win."

Clark came into the final round three shots behind 54-hole leader Lee Westwood but with four birdies around the turn he caught and passed the Englishman.

Westwood scrapped hard to stay in the tournament but his hopes ended when his tee shot found the water on the famous, island green, 17th. He made double bogey and ended the week in a tie for fourth.

"I just didn't play well enough today," he said.

Robert Allenby had the best chance to match Clark. He narrowly missed an eagle putt at the par-5 16th then lipped out for birdie on the 17th. He finished one back.

"Obviously, the golfing gods were with Tim today, and I can accept that. I did everything that I could possibly do to try and win the tournament."

Tiger Woods withdrew early in his fourth round complaining of a back injury. Phil Mickelson could have overtaken him as World Number 1 if he'd won the event but he couldn't get it going on the final day and ended in a tie for 17th.

The Players Championship TPC Sawgrass, Florida May 6 - 9, purse $9,500,000, par 72

1    Tim Clark (RSA)        68    71    66    67    272    $1,710,000 2    Robert Allenby (Aus)    66    70    67    70    273    $1,026,000 3    Lucas Glover (USA)    70    65    69    70    274    $646,000 T4    Ben Crane (USA)        67    69    68    72    276    $358,150 T4    Davis Love III (USA)    69    68    71    68    276    $358,150 T4    Heath Slocum (USA)    67    66    72    71    276    $358,150 T4    Bo Van Pelt (USA)        68    69    69    70    276    $358,150 T4    Lee Westwood (Eng)    67    65    70    74    276    $358,150 9    Francesco Molinari (Ita)    68    65    71    73    277    $275,500 T10    Fredrik Jacobson (Swe)    69    70    69    71    279    $237,500 T10    Andres Romero (Arg)    69    70    69    71    279    $237,500 T10    Chris Stroud (USA)    70    69    66    74    279    $237,500

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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