Golf-American Crane ends title drought in San Diego (Reuters)
February 1, 2010
* Crane survives nervy finish to triumph by a shot
* Wins first title since 2005 Milwaukee Championship
(Updates at end of round)
By Mark Lamport-Stokes
SAN DIEGO, Jan 31 (Reuters) – American Ben Crane sank threelengthy birdie putts on his way to clinching a first PGA Tourtitle in more than four years with a one-shot victory at theSan Diego Open on Sunday.
Crane overhauled third-round leader Ryuji Imada of Japanwith three birdies in the first five holes and survived a nervyfinish at Torrey Pines to card a two-under-par 70 for a13-under total of 275.
The 33-year-old missed a three-footer to bogey the 17th buthe parred the last on the challenging South Course to earn hisfirst victory on the U.S. circuit since the 2005 MilwaukeeChampionship.
Australian Mark Leishman, the 2009 PGA Tour rookie of theyear, birdied two of the last three holes for a 68 and a tiefor second with compatriot Michael Sim (71) and American BrandtSnedeker (69).
South African Ernie Els was a further stroke back afterclosing with a 69 but the expected last-day charge bythree-times champion Phil Mickelson failed to materialise.
The American world number two, making his first tournamentappearance of the year, bogeyed the first three holes en routeto a 73 and 19th place at eight under.
SUPERB APPROACH
Crane began another sun-kissed day on the Californiacoastline two strokes behind the pacesetting Imada and herecorded his first birdie at the par-four second where hestruck a superb approach to three feet.
At the tricky par-three third, he benefited from a two-shotswing to move one ahead of Imada, a lead which he neverrelinquished.
Crane rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt up the hill while hisJapanese playing partner bogeyed after three-putting from longrange.
Two holes later, the American picked up his third shot,ramming in a 22-footer and pumping his right fist incelebration after the ball disappeared into the cup.
Out in a flawless three-under 33, Crane drained a 48-footerat the par-three 11th to keep his closest challengers at bay.
He collected his first bogey of the round at the par-five13th, where he three-putted from 14 feet, and also stumbled atthe par-four 17th when he pushed his short par putt wide of theleft edge of the cup.
Despite finding the right rough off the tee at the par-fivelast, Crane laid up in two on the way to a regulation five anda one-stroke victory. (Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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