ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Georgia (AP) ― Winning on the PGA Tour is what Tommy Gainey dreamed about when he held a job wrapping insulation around hot water tanks, when he was playing more mini-tours than he can remember, when he was taking part in a Golf Channel reality series where he was best known as the guy wearing two gloves.
“Two Gloves” never imagined his first win would unfold the way it did Sunday at Sea Island.
Seven shots behind going into the final round of the McGladrey Classic, Gainey came within one putt of a 59, and then had to wait more than two hours as David Toms, Jim Furyk and tournament host Davis Love III ― who have combined for 49 wins, three majors and 17 Ryder Cup teams ― tried to catch him.
None of them could. Gainey broke the course record at Sea Island with a 10-under 60, which carried him to a one-shot win over Toms. He became the fourth player this year to rally from at least seven shots in the final round to win, helped by seven straight 3s on his card on the back nine.
Tommy Gainey reacts to his eagle on the 15th hole on Sunday. ( AFP-Yonhap News)
“Oh, man,” Gainey said. “I tell you, you’re out here on the PGA Tour. You’re playing with the best players in the world. Ninety-nine percent of these guys have already won, and won majors, big tournaments. The only show I can say I’ve won is the ‘Big Break.’ Now I can sit here and say I’ve won the McGladrey Classic here at Sea Island, and I’m very proud to be in this tournament and very proud to win. And wow, it’s been a whirlwind day.
“I didn’t know having 24 putts and shooting 60 would be like this,” he said. “So I’m pretty stoked about it.”
Furyk was pretty bummed.
He went 55 holes without a bogey, a streak that ended on the 18th hole when he needed a birdie to force a playoff. From the fairway, Furyk pushed an 8-iron right of the green and had to settle for a 69, a sour end to a season filled with bitter moments.
Perth International
Bo Van Pelt won the Perth International on Sunday, closing with a 4-under 68 for a two-stroke victory over American countryman Jason Dufner.
Van Pelt extended his one-shot overnight lead with the help of six birdies and two bogeys to secure his first victory in a European Tour-sanctioned event. He finished at 16-under 272 at Lake Karrinyup and earned $333,330.
“We had a good battle there,” Van Pelt said. “We both played well.”
Dufner, a two-time winner this year on the PGA Tour, shot a 69. Spain’s Alejandro Canizares was third at 11 under after a 68.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry had a 69 to finish fourth at 9 under, and Englishmen Paul Casey (67) and David Howell (71) were another stroke back along with Scotland’s Scott Jamieson (68), Wales’ Rhys Davies (69) and Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (74).
Van Pelt had five birdies in his first 11 holes to increase his lead to three shots, but then stumbled on the 14th when he three-putted for bogey while Dufner hit an approach to within inches of the flag and tapped in for birdie to pull within one.
However, Van Pelt responded with a birdie on the next hole while Dufner bogeyed the 16th to give his rival a comfortable cushion.
“I had a bit of a lead there and made bogey on 14,” Van Pelt said. “I thought I hit a pretty good shot but it definitely got tight there at the end. A little tighter than I wanted but luckily for me I came out on top.”