Singh’s gamble pays off for Perry at Bay Hill invite

Vijay Singh launched a 7-iron into the air and over the water, then posed as it descended toward the flag on the 18th green Sunday in what looked like a fitting conclusion to his return as No. 1 in the world.

All he wanted was the trophy at the Bay Hill Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Singh had to settle for the No. 1 ranking.

Kenny Perry emerged the winner in a dramatic finish at Arnold Palmer’s tournament, surviving a late charge by Singh that ended when his gutsy shot came up short, crashing against the rocks and into the lake for a double bogey.

“It looked like it was going to fly right next to the hole,” Perry said. “From my angle you’re thinking, ‘Man, that looks perfect.’ And then to see it … I was stunned.”

No longer needing to match Singh’s aggressive play, Perry hit safely to the middle of the green some 70 feet away, lagged to 2 feet and closed with a 2-under 70 for a two-shot win over Singh (69) and Graeme McDowell (66).

The only consolation for Singh was the No. 1 ranking after loaning it to Tiger Woods for two weeks.

“Big deal,” he said. “I lost the tournament.”

Perry, 44, became the oldest winner at Bay Hill and picked up his eighth career victory, worth $900,000. He finished at 12-under 276, the number he had in mind.

Champions tour

Former California amateur star Mark Johnson won in just his 14th start on the Champions Tour, shooting a 1-under 70 for a four-stroke victory in the Toshiba Senior Classic at Newport Beach, Calif.

The 50-year-old Johnson, the qualifying tournament winner known as the “Beer Man” because he drove a Budweiser truck for 18 years before turning pro, had a 13-under 200 total on the Newport Beach Country Club course.

Johnson, who earned $247,500, eagled the par-5 15th and 18th holes in an up-and-down final round that included two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey. He began the day with a three-stroke lead over Keith Fergus after shooting a 63 on Saturday.

Fergus (71) and Wayne Levi (70) tied for second at 9 under, and first-round leader Gil Morgan (70), Don Pooley (65) and John Bland (69) followed at 8 under.

LPGA tour

Annika Sorenstam has rallied to win in the final round 19 times.

She just couldn’t recall many in more dramatic fashion than her repeat victory in the Safeway International at Superstition Mountain, Ariz.

Sorenstam nailed a 4-wood second shot onto the green on the par-5 18th hole, made up the final shot of her comeback and forced a playoff with her birdie putt, then beat Lorena Ochoa with a par on the first extra hole.

Sorenstam made up four strokes in the last three holes and improved to 14-5 in playoffs. Ochoa was in her first playoff.

The win – Sorenstam’s career 58th – was her second in two tournaments this year and the sixth in her last eight.

She finished with a 2-under 70 to match Ochoa (74) at 11-under 277.

Juli Inkster (72) and Soo-Yun Kang (76) tied for third at 8 under.

Wendy Ward, from Edwall, Wash., shot an even-par 72 to finish at one-over par, 289.