Ogilvy survives to win Match Play

Geoff Ogilvy never imagined himself winning the Match Play Championship. He was too busy looking for the exit.

Ogilvy had already removed his cap when Nick O’Hern stood over a 5-foot putt to win on the 20th hole. That was on Thursday, a lifetime ago.

Then came Mike Weir, 4-up with four holes to play in the third round but unable to put away the ultimate survivor of a tournament that requires nothing less than survival.

Ten times, Ogilvy was one putt away from going home.

“No one made one,” he said, “which is pretty fortunate.”

Ogilvy ended his long, improbable journey Sunday at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif., by making short work of Davis Love III, pulling away with a magnificent 4-iron into 6 feet for a conceded eagle and not giving Love the chance everyone else gave him to capture the World Golf Championship.

“Unbelievable,” Ogilvy said after his 3-and-2 victory. “It’s such a hard tournament to believe you’re going to keep going. I got lucky the first four days, and the last two games I played very well.”

Ogilvy wound up playing 129 holes for the week – breaking Jeff Maggert’s record by one hole – and walking off with the $1.3 million prize.

Champions Tour

Jerry Pate jumped in the lake again, signaling another victory at long last.

Pate’s birdie putt on the final hole gave him a one-shot win in the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Lutz, Fla., his first pro victory in 24 years. Pate shot a 5-under 66 for the day to finish at 11-under 202 for the tournament.

The last time Pate won – at the Tournament Players Championship in 1982 – he jumped in a lake just off the 18th green at Sawgrass.

Pate broke a four-way tie with his 10-foot putt on the final hole, leaving Hale Irwin (68), Mark James (68) and Morris Hatalsky (64) a shot back. Loren Roberts came within three shots of winning his fourth straight Champions Tour, finishing tied for fifth place.