Hoch: This old stick is just fine, thank you ...
If in doubt, as a golfer you should simply go back to what you do best – hitting golf balls. That’s the philosophy Scott Hoch took on board down the stretch on Sunday at the Old Course in Broken Sound and it paid some serious dividends, $247,000 to be precise.
Rather than letting the gusty conditions affect his shot selection, Hoch went back to basics to birdie five of his last eight holes to win the 2008 Allianz Championship and his second Champions Tour title. The historians among you may well remember Hoch for missing ‘that putt’ to win the 1989 US Masters from two feet allowing Nick Faldo to snatch victory on the very next hole. Thankfully for Hoch, there were no such problems this week.
Hoch’s birdie burst gave him 14-under total and a one shot victory over Brad Bryant and Bruce Lietzke. Last week’s winner Jerry Pate couldn’t repeat his Sunday best this time around but he’ll his finish in 9th capped an impressive fortnight for the 54-year-old. "It wasn't looking good today," Hoch said. "I just went back to basics instead of hitting shots according to conditions."
Hoch dedicated his win to his caddie Greg Rita, who is recovering from chemotherapy treatment for a brain tumour. "Hopefully, he gets to come back and caddy for me again." Get well soon Greg …
Ladies European Tour: There was some British success in the world of golf this week. “Liar!” we hear you cry, but this is not a joke. England’s Lisa Hall shot a superb final round 66 to win the ANZ Australian Ladies Masters at Royal Pines on Sunday by a single shot from Shin Hyun-ju.
Shin, who held the lead throughout the final day, missed a 3-foot par putt on the final hole to get into a playoff with Hall. The missed putt moved her back into second place on her own.
With tears in her eyes, Shin called her missed putt "a bad stroke." Not that Hall cared too much, her victory increased her earnings for the season up to over 50,000 euros and placed her top of the money list after two events. Hall, from Stoke-on-Trent, who came from being behind the three overnight leaders to clinch the win, was shocked that Shin three-putted from 25 feet on the last. “I certainly thought I’d be in a play-off. In golf all sorts of things can happen so I was on the lucky end of it today I think.
“I wouldn’t wish badly on her [Shin] but I was quite relieved that it didn’t go in.” A great win for Hall, lets hope the men can follow suit …