KAILUA-KONA — After three days, 53 holes and countless highs and lows, just a few inches was the difference at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on Saturday.
KAILUA-KONA — After three days, 53 holes and countless highs and lows, just a few inches was the difference at the Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai on Saturday.
Duffy Waldorf sunk a 25-foot birdie putt on the final hole of the tournament to cap a 6-under 66 third round, finishing at 18-under 198 for the tournament and edging Tom Lehman by a stroke.
“When I got to it, it just looked good,” Waldorf said. “Sometimes you would rather have a longer putt that you really feel good about the break. It lined up really well, felt comfortable and I just felt like I needed to give it a run because Tom was in really good shape with a very makeable putt. I might have needed to make it just to get a playoff.”
Lehman had a chance to force a playoff with a shorter, but still tough 15-foot putt. It left on a good line, but came up six inches short.
“The greens here are so straight, so many putts are so straight it’s easy to get line conscious. That’s what happens on 18 when you just worry about the line so much you don’t hit it,” Lehman said. “So disappointing, but a good week for me.”
Bogey-free proved the way to be for Duffy. He became the fourth player and second winner to accomplish the feat in the tournament. John Cook also was bogey-free in his 2013 victory on the Big Island.
That consistency helped Waldorf open with rounds of 67 and 65 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round, but he found himself trailing Lehman by two strokes with six holes left. Waldorf made birdie putt on the par-4 13th and pulled even with another one on 16. He kept himself in contention by saving par on a 7-foot putt on the par-3 17th after hitting his tee shot in the rough.
While Waldorf was making his run, Lehman was not without his chances. He saw a birdie putt lip out on No. 16 — a very similar look that he had on a chip in the second round.
“You start thinking about all the putts early in the round,” Lehman said. “I hit great putts that just burned the edges.”
Lehman almost won the tournament on the Par-5s. He was an impressive 15-under-par on those holes for the tournament, including four eagles, which matched the Champions Tour record for a single event. He is just the 12th player to accomplish that feat.
“Can’t complain,” Lehman said. “Just motivation to keep working harder.”
The win is Waldorf’s second on the PGA Tour Champions. His other was at the Toshiba Classic last year in November. Waldorf said he felt the momentum from a nice finish to last season roll into the opening-event this week at Hualalai, although he admitted starting his year with a win is a new experience.
“It’s a foreign feeling for me. It’s never happened before and it’s just exciting. It’s exciting for me to win in Hawaii,” Waldorf said. “I’ve always loved playing here ever since I was a kid.”
Waldorf earned $300,000 in his first appearance in the event for major champions from the last five years, tournament winners the last two seasons and sponsor invitees. He was the ninth player to win the tournament in his first appearance, and he did so by outplaying a stellar field.
Joining Waldorf and Lehman in a three-horse race for most of the day was Davis Love III. The U.S. Ryder Cup captain tied but never led outright on the final day, and fell back after a bogey on No. 16. He finished third at 15-under after a 68 on Saturday.
Other notable names like Jay Haas (65) and Round 1 leader Joe Durant (68) were 14 under. Fred Couples (66) and Kenny Perry (67) were another stroke back.
Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez finished tied for 11th, and had just one bogey in the event.
Bernhard Langer — who collected the most hardware on the Champions Tour last year — posted his second consecutive 5-under-par 67, finishing eighth and picking up his seventh top 10-finish at Hualalai.
“I knew I was playing well, but this is a strong field,” Waldorf said. “Even starting the day I’m like, you know what, if I play well there’s a good chance I won’t win. So I really didn’t feel any pressure out there that I had a chance to win or was going too well. I just wanted to play as good a round as I could.”
With the tournament’s Makau trophy in tow and another victory on his resume as he departs the Orchid Isle, Waldorf can rest easy knowing he did that at Hualalai.