Date: March 23, 2009
Author: Sportal and PA Sport

Goggin storms home

Australian Mathew Goggin produced a scintillating finish to claim a share of fourth place at the US PGA&aposs Transitions Championship. Goggin equalled the day&aposs best round with a four-under 67 to finish at six-under overall, just two shots behind South African Retief Goosen. The 40-year-old won by one from Charles Howell and Brett Quigley on the same Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort where he captured the 2003 Chrysler Championship. Having chipped in for birdie at nine, a 17-foot eagle putt on the 575-yard 11th proved to be the decisive blow as two-time US Open champion Goosen ended four years without a victory in America. Goggin was level with Steve Stricker and Charlie Wi, who was trying to become the second Korean winner on the circuit in three weeks after YE Yang&aposs Honda Classic victory. Stuart Appleby took a share of eighth place at four-under, while Aron Price was even with the card after a final-round 69. Veteran Steve Elkington shot a 75 to be at six-over but compatriot Nathan Green fared even worse, his fourth-round 79 following a disastrous 83 on Saturday to complete a horror weekend. For Goosen, whose last title came at the Africa Open in his home country in January, a chat with legend Gary Player marked a change in fortunes. “I feel I&aposm a little more prepared for the game than over the last couple of years,” he said two months ago. “I have been working hard on my fitness and everything.” “I&aposm probably the fittest now that I&aposve been in the last five years.” After his latest victory, he added: “Obviously 11 was a turning point, and I scrambled my way in. The course was not easy.” Meanwhile, Argentina&aposs Estanislao Goya survived a late scare and an amazing birdie burst by Scot Callum Macaulay to win a European Tour title at just the sixth attempt. The 20-year-old from Cordoba, a graduate from last season&aposs Challenge Tour, won the Madeira Islands Open BPI-Portugal in Porto Santo by one with a closing 73 and six-under total of 278. Final Round of the Transitions Championship, Innisbrook Golf Club, Tampa Bay, Florida -8: Retief Goosen 69 68 69 70 -7: Charles Howell III 71 66 71 69, Brett Quigley 73 68 68 68 68 -6: Mathew Goggin (Australia) 67 74 70 67, Steve Stricker 69 67 73 69, Charlie Wi 68 73 68 69 -5: Steve Flesch 71 67 72 69 -4: Stuart Appleby (Australia) 70 67 71 72, Tom Lehman 68 69 68 75, Kevin Na 70 72 71 67, Bo Van Pelt 71 72 71 66 -3: Rich Beem 71 67 71 72, Jonathan Byrd 67 70 71 73, Matt Kuchar 72 68 69 72, Nick Watney 69 67 74 71, Mark Wilson 68 71 74 68 -2: Jason Dufner 71 71 70 70, Kenny Perry 67 74 71 70 Also: E: Aron Price (Australia) 74 69 72 69 +2: Nick O Hern (Australia) 69 73 71 73 +6: Steve Elkington (Australia) 69 74 72 75 + 20: Nathan Green (Australia) 68 74 83 79 Final Round of the Madeira Islands Open, Porto Santo Golf Club, Portugal -6: Estansilao Goya 68 68 69 73 -5: Callum McCaulay 74 74 67 64 -4: Will Besseling 69 72 70 69, Damien McGrane 66 72 70 72 -3: Anthony Wall 72 69 73 67 -2: Michael Hoey 69 66 75 72 -1: Thomas Aiken 72 69 71 71, Joakim Haeggman 66 70 75 72 E: David Drysdale 72 72 71 69, Jan-Are Larsen 71 71 76 66 +1: Jose Manuel Lara 71 76 69 69 +2: Jean-Baptiste Gonnet 69 75 71 71, Jose-Felipe Lima 72 74 69 71, Jarmo Sandelin 72 74 69 71 +4: Carlos Rodiles 73 65 71 79, Marcel Siem 75 70 73 70, Inder Van Weerelt 75 72 71 70 +5: Marc Cayeux 73 72 71 73, Carl Suneson 68 72 78 71