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Hoffman takes Hope

Charley Hoffman, from Las Vegas, Nev., tees off on the fourth hole during the final round of the Bob Hope Classic. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press The Spokesman-Review
Charley Hoffman, from Las Vegas, Nev., tees off on the fourth hole during the final round of the Bob Hope Classic. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

Charley Hoffman rammed in a 4-foot birdie putt to beat John Rollins on the first hole of a playoff in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Sunday in Thousand Palms, Calif., wrapping up a wind-swept round that took its toll on most of the players.

Winning his first PGA Tour title, the 30-year-old Hoffman birdied No. 17, eagled the 18th in regulation, then birdied the 18th in the playoff.

He closed with a 1-under 71 on The Classic Club course to match Rollins (73) at 17-under 343 in the five-day tournament.

Rollins’ shot into a fairway bunker on the extra hole cost him.

Hoffman, in the next-to-last group, put the pressure on the final threesome when he hit his second shot within 11 feet of the pin on the par-5, 564-yard 18th, then rolled in the putt for an eagle.

With Hoffman waiting and watching, Rollins, in the last threesome with Justin Rose and Lucas Glover, missed a long try for eagle but made the short birdie putt to force the playoff.

Rose, meanwhile, hit into a bunker off the tee on 18, then ran a long birdie try past the cup before sinking the par putt that left him at 16 under and a shot behind.

Rose, tied with Glover at the top heading into the final 18 holes, finished with a 76 over the Classic Club layout.

Jeff Quinney, whose ace on the 176-yard 17th put him at 15 under, finished with a 73 to tie for fourth with Heath Slocum (72). Glover had an 80 that dropped him into a tie for 13th.

Although the wind calmed a bit in the day, it gusted up to 40 mph, would quiet for several seconds, then just as suddenly kick up again, making club selection a guessing game.

Phil Mickelson, making his first start of the year, was among those who struggled mightily. The 2002 and 2004 Hope champion shot a 78.

Champions Tour

Hale Irwin won the Champions Tour’s season-opening MasterCard Championship in Kaupulehu-Kona, Hawaii, beating Jim Thorpe and Tom Kite by five strokes for his tour-record 45th victory and first in 15 months.

Coming off his first winless season in 12 years, the 61-year-old Irwin closed with a 7-under 65 for a 23-under 193 total to become the sixth-oldest player to win a title on the senior tour.

Women’s World Cup

Celeste Troche and Julieta Granada of Paraguay combined for a 7-under-par 65 in better ball to win the Women’s World Cup, beating the runner-up United States by seven strokes in Sun City, South Africa.

Paraguay finished at 9-under 279 at Gary Player Country Club. The U.S. team of Pat Hurst and Juli Inkster (67) was at 286, with South Korea (67) third at 287.

European Tour

Paul Casey shot a 7-under 65 to win the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship by one stroke in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

Casey finished at 17-under 271, beating Miguel Angel Jimenez (68) and Peter Hanson (68). Defending champion Chris DiMarco (66) was fourth at 15-under.