ROCHESTER (New York), Aug 18: Journeyman Shaun Micheel struck a brilliant approach to two inches to birdie the last for a shock win at the US PGA Championship on Sunday as Tiger Woods completed his worst major finish as a professional.
World-ranked 169th, the 34-year-old Micheel became the seventh player to clinch the tournament at the first attempt, firing a closing level-par 70 to secure his maiden PGA Tour title by two shots.
American Micheel finished at four-under 276, with his compatriot and playing partner Chad Campbell alone in second at two under after carding a 72 at a sun-drenched Oak Hill Country Club.
South African Tim Clark, who made a fast start with three birdies in the first four holes, faltered around the turn and had to settle for third place at one under after a 69.
“I had a perfect yardage into 18 and a nice perfect lie,” Micheel told American television of his seven-iron approach at the last. “I was just trying to get it somewhere on the green and I was fortunate to line that one up.
Micheel’s victory completed a clean sweep of first-time winners at this year’s majors, following the breakthrough victories achieved by Mike Weir (US Masters), Jim Furyk (US Open) and Ben Curtis (British Open).
The four majors have not been won by first-timers in a single season since 1969, when George Archer clinched the Masters, Orville Moody the US Open, Briton Tony Jacklin the British Open and Raymond Floyd the US PGA Championship.
Micheel follows Jim Barnes (in 1916), Tom Creavy (1931), Bob Hamilton (1944), Doug Ford (1955), Bob Tway (1986) and John Daly (1991) as US PGA Champions on debut.
He began the day tied for the lead with Campbell, and recovered from back-to-back bogeys on seven and eight with three birdies down the stretch.
Ffinal round scores:
276 — Shaun Micheel 69, 68, 69, 70.
278 — Chad Campbell 69, 72, 65, 72.
279 — Tim Clark (South Africa) 72, 70, 68, 69.
280 — Alex Cejka (Germany) 74, 69, 68, 69.
282 — Ernie Els (South Africa) 71, 70, 70, 71; Jay Haas 70, 74, 69, 69.
284 — Fred Funk 69, 73, 70, 72; Loren Roberts 70, 73, 70, 71; Mike Weir (Canada) 68, 71, 70, 75.
285 — Billy Andrade 67, 72, 72, 74; Niclas Fasth (Sweden) 76, 70, 71, 68; Charles Howell III 70, 72, 70, 73; Kenny Perry 75, 72, 70, 68.
286 — Robert Gamez 70, 73, 70, 73; Tim Herron 69, 72, 74, 71; Scott McCarron 74, 70, 71, 71; Rod Pampling (Australia) 66, 74, 73, 73.
287 — Carlos Franco (Paraguay) 73, 73, 69, 72; Jim Furyk 72, 74, 69, 72; Toshi Izawa (Japan) 71, 72, 71, 73; Rocco Mediate 72, 74, 71, 70; Kevin Sutherland 69, 74, 71, 73.
288 — Stuart Appleby (Australia) 74, 73, 71, 70; Luke Donald (Britain) 73, 72, 71, 72; Phil Mickelson 66, 75, 72, 75; Adam Scott (Australia) 72, 69, 72, 75..—Reuters