Ryuji Imada watched someone else go in the water this time.
Imada claimed his first PGA Tour victory yesterday, beating Kenny Perry in a playoff at the AT&T Classic in Duluth, Ga., after losing the tournament a year ago on the 73rd hole.
“I never really believed in destiny,” Imada said. “But I'm starting to believe it.”
The two finished regulation at 15-under 273, but Perry's ball wound up in the water on the first playoff hole even though his second shot easily cleared the pond in front of the green. Unfortunately for Perry, he struck a pine tree behind the green about 10 feet up the trunk. The ball ricocheted straight back across the putting surface and didn't stop rolling until it was in the water.
Imada, who had driven into the rough, played it safe with an iron on the par-5 hole and wound up two-putting for the winning par.
After taking a drop, Perry nearly spun back his wedge into the cup, then missed a 12-footer that would have forced another extra hole. Imada stepped up and calmly knocked his ball straight in from 4 feet for the victory.
A year ago, Imada got into a playoff with Zach Johnson at the TPC Sugarloaf, only to lose when he knocked his second shot into the same pond that claimed Perry's ball.
Imada closed with a 5-under 67 to match Perry (69) at 15-under.
Ochoa beats the crowd
A day after leaving the retiring Annika Sorenstam in her wake, Lorena Ochoa overcame a balky putter to shoot a 1-under 71 for a one-stroke victory over five players for her third straight victory in the rain-shortened Sybase Classic in Clifton, N.J.
“It was a tough day, but I did it,” Ochoa said. “I think that was what was important.
The victory was Ochoa's 23rd overall and 20th since April 2006. The $300,000 prize pushed her career earnings past the $12 million mark, making her the fastest player on the LPGA Tour to reach that plateau.
Ochoa accomplished it in just over five years, more than four years faster than the previous mark set by Sorenstam, who played herself out of contention with a second-round 73. The win also ended the 26-year-old Mexican's two-tournament victory drought and reaffirmed her status as the best player in women's golf.
Sophie Gustafson, Morgan Pressel, Catriona Matthew, rookie leader Na Yeon Choi and Brittany Lang all finished the 54-hole tournament at 9-under-par 207, a shot behind the winner.
Bean holds off Roberts
Andy Bean managed to save par on No. 18 after hooking his drive left and bogeying the previous hole, holding on for a 2-under 70 and a one-stroke victory over Loren Roberts in the Champions Tour's Regions Charity Classic in Hoover, Ala.
It was only the second win in 5½ years on the 50-and-over tour for Bean.
