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RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — Retief Goosen hit into the water on the par-5 18th gap and saved par to win The Galleri Traditional on Sunday with a 3-under 69 and with loads of assist from the blunders of Steven Alker.
Goosen and Alker had been tied for the lead going to the ultimate gap at Mission Hills. Goosen was on the sting of a bunker and hit a 4-iron so skinny that it splashed twice within the water that surrounds the 18th inexperienced on the Dinah Shore Match course.
As a substitute of laying up, Alker additionally selected to go for the inexperienced. His 5-iron narrowly cleared the pond, however bounced again into the water. He pitched onto the inexperienced and missed his par putt.
Goosen took his penalty drop, hit wedge to eight ft and rolled within the par putt for a one-shot victory that he by no means noticed coming. It was his third profession win on the PGA Tour Champions.
On the par-3 seventeenth, Goosen was in a bunker left of the inexperienced and hit out to 4 ft to save lots of par. Alker had a prolonged birdie putt that he rammed some 10 ft by and three-putted.
“I am glad it flipped my manner,” Goosen mentioned.
Goosen mentioned his ball was sitting properly in grass close to the sting of the bunker. He was first to play and needed to place stress on Alker, torn between a 5-iron and a 4-iron. He went for the longer membership to be protected, and it did not work out the best way he imagined — in so some ways.
“The ball was a bit of bit above my ft and the ball was sitting up so properly,” Goosen mentioned. “I used to be in between a 5 and a 4 and I assumed I am going to simply hit a clean 4 and fully thinned it.”
No worries. As a substitute of laying up wanting the water and leaving a brief wedge for his third, Alker adopted him into the water.
“I assumed Steve was going to put up and simply go from there,” Goosen mentioned. “When he hit it within the water it was a little bit of a shock.”
Alker didn’t query his resolution, saying his ball was sitting up completely within the mild tough and a strong 5-iron ought to have been sufficient.
“Simply bought a bit of excessive on the face and simply sort of come out delicate,” Alker mentioned.
Ricardo Gonzalez, who had a one-shot lead at the beginning, was tied for the lead till taking bogey after a drive right into a fairway bunker on the sixteenth, after which making bogey from the bunker on the par-3 seventeenth. However his birdie on the 18th gave him a 71 and moved him right into a share of second place with Alker and Alex Cejka (68).
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