Little-Known Player Claims Playoff Win

Golf

Phil Blackmar, returning from golf oblivion and surviving a double-bogey on No. 17, birdied the first hole of a playoff with Kevin Sutherland to win the Houston Open Sunday at The Woodlands, Texas.

Blackmar, of Corpus Christi, Texas, whose last victory came in 1988, had finished no better than 20th this year. He came into the tournament 96th on the money list.

Sutherland, 32, of Sacramento, Calif., who has been to qualifying school three times, had a chance to win in regulation, but his 45-foot downhill putt for birdie on No. 18 came up short.

Both players, who were tied heading into the final round, shot 2-under 70 to finish at 12-under 276.

Steve Elkington, the tour money leader this year with $1.06 million, finished third, two shots back.

LPGA Sprint Titleholders Championship

Tammie Green ended her three-year victory drought, winning the green jacket at the Sprint Titleholders Championship at Daytona Beach, Fla., with a remarkable performance on the greens.

Green shot a par 72, a score that could have been much higher without a smooth, confident putting stroke that saved several crucial pars, as some of the game’s best players were trying to catch her.

She hit a wedge within 2 feet for birdie at the 18th for a 14-under 274 and a two-stroke victory over two-time U.S. Open champion Annika Sorenstam, who closed with a 66.

PGA Senior Bruno’s Memorial Classic

Jay Sigel had an eagle and a birdie over the first five holes and went on to beat the PGA Senior Tour’s hottest player, Hale Irwin, at the Bruno’s Memorial Classic at Hoover, Ala.

Sigel shot a 2-under-par 70 to finish at 11-under 205 and win by three shots over Gil Morgan. Irwin, who has four wins this year, played in the same group with Sigel and started four strokes behind him. But he shot a 3-over 75.

Italian Open

Bernhard Langer fired a course-record 8-under-par 64 and won the Italian Open at Brescia, Italy, by one stroke over Jose Maria Olazabal.