The Columbus Dispatch

Gay beats Clark in playoff for Bermuda title

- Adam Woodard

The few fans in attendance this week for the PGA Tour’s Bermuda Championsh­ip witnessed one of the best finishes so far this season.

Doc Redman entered Sunday’s final round at Port Royal Golf Course with a one-shot lead at 10 under, but it was Wyndham Clark and Brian Gay who duked it out down the stretch in beautiful Bermuda. Seventy-two holes weren’t enough to decide the tournament, which saw Gay lift the winner’s trophy for the first time since 2013 and the fifth time in his career after one playoff hole.

“I was looking forward to coming back to Bermuda. Tied for third here last year, so I had good feelings and thoughts coming back,” said Gay. “It’s a crazy game, you never know what’s going to happen. It’s been a pretty long slump since the quarantine and been working on trying to get things back together and kind of came together this week.”

Looking for his first win on Tour,

Clark got off to a hot start with birdies on Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7 to make the turn at 5 under for the round and take the solo lead.

As Clark was cooling, Gay was gearing up for a late run. Making his 602nd career start on Tour, the 48-year-old four-time winner made seven birdies from holes Nos. 6-15 to climb within one shot of the lead.

Both players found the green in regulation on the first playoff hole, with Clark holding the slight advantage. Gay made a clutch putt from outside 10 feet while Clark missed from inside seven feet.

PGA Tour Champions

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Darren Clarke won the Timbertech Champions on Sunday for his first PGA Tour Champions title, two-putting for birdie on the par-5 18th for a one-stroke victory over Jim Furyk and Bernhard Langer.

Clarke hit his second shot on 18 to 35 feet and rolled his eagle try to 11/2 feet. After Furyk missed a 15-foot eagle try, Clarke tapped in for a 4-under 68 and the breakthrou­gh victory. The 52-yearold major champion from Northern Ireland had a 17-under 199 total at the The Old Course at Broken Sound.

Clarke shot a 62 – with a penalty stroke for picking up his ball on the second fairway – Saturday for a share of the lead with Robert Karlsson.

The 50-year-old Furyk also closed with a 68. He won this year in his first two starts on the senior tour.

 ?? GETTY IMAGES ?? Brian Gay reacts Sunday after making a birdie putt to beat Wyndham Clark in a playoff to win the Bermuda Championsh­ip.
GETTY IMAGES Brian Gay reacts Sunday after making a birdie putt to beat Wyndham Clark in a playoff to win the Bermuda Championsh­ip.

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