Marathon game ends in win for Newcomb at Oil Country
It was worth the wait.
All 38 holes of it. Kentucky’s Patrick Newcomb knew he was in for a long day, having to play the final 16 holes of his third round and all of his fourth Sunday at the Syncrude Oil Country Championship.
But he had no problem with a little overtime on top of it, not when a birdie on the fourth extra hole at Windermere Golf and Country Club clinched the victory.
“I thought I missed it high,” said Newcomb, who edged Germany’s Max Rottluff in the thrilling finish. “My caddie and I were talking about it and I said ‘Let’s just give it a little more, it’s late in the day, they’re slowing down a little bit.’
“I gave it a little more and five feet away I’m thinking I can’t believe this is not going in. Then it curled in the top edge and it felt amazing.”
Rottluff came out of nowhere on Sunday. He started the final two rounds 24 spots behind the leaders, but finished 64-64 to go 16-under and take the clubhouse lead.
He waited for nearly two hours before the final group finished.
Newcomb, meanwhile, was four shots back with nine holes to go, so it didn’t look great. But he rallied with four birdies and a back nine 32. He had a 15-footer for birdie on 18 to win it in regulation but left it two inches short.
“I just had my brother’s voice ringing in my ears ‘Dude, run it four feet past before you leave it short. Especially on a 34-hole day.’ I was a little disappointed, but I played great.”
Newcomb was at the course at 8 a.m. and didn’t hole the winning putt until just before 8 p.m. He definitely earned the $31,500 cheque.
“My back got a little tight at the start of the back nine on the second round because I was kind of out of it at that point (four shots back). But I hit a great shot from the rough and holed a putt (for birdie on 10) and that kind of jump-started me.
“I hit a great putt (for birdie) on 12 to put me close enough where I had a chance to win this thing. And once you have a chance to win, everything livens up a little bit.
“Walking down the third playoff hole I felt it, but I just tried to keep grinding.”
Rottluff, who only made one bogey in his last 37 holes, could only shrug and tip his hat to the winner.
“It’s always easier to lose to a birdie than to make the mistake yourself,” said Rottluff, who was looking for his second win of the season after finishing 63-67 to lift the trophy in Victoria in June.