THE LOUDEST CHEERS were for Tiger Woods but the 2011 Australian Open title belongs to Sydney man Greg Chalmers.
The Aussie won his national championship for the second time on Sunday, closing with a three-under 69 to finish on 13-under and hold off a late charge by Woods as well as a 50-foot birdie putt by John Senden that nearly forced a playoff.
For Woods, it was his best chance of winning a tournament all year but his attempt was ultimately ruined by his third-round score of 75. “Two holes on the back nine today, and I putted awful yesterday, or I would have been right there,” the former world number one summed up afterwards.
Two tee shots led to bogeys on the back nine, though he also made birdie on the second-toughest hole – the 12th – before chipping in from just off the green for eagle on the 14th. Woods then missed a 12-foot eagle putt on the 17th for a share of the lead.
Behind him, Chalmers made his final birdie with a brilliant tee shot on the par-three 15th to tap-in range, then played mistake-free down the stretch and picked up a meaningful par on the par-three 18th with an up-and-down from the bunker.
The matches return to Royal Melbourne next week, and Woods at least showed that he wasn’t a complete waste of a captain’s pick by Fred Couples. He not only was the low American by finishing alone in third, he looked good doing it. It was his best result against a full field since Woods last won two years ago at the Australian Masters.
“I felt great,” Woods said. “It’s nice to finally be healthy again.
“I had the lead at Augusta on Sunday, that’s the last time I’ve been in that spot,” he added. “It’s been a long time, unfortunately I haven’t played a lot of tournaments in between. But it was great to be out there, I had a chance. Unfortunately I didn’t post the number I wanted to post.”
It was a strong field for the tournament, with eight Americans on the Presidents Cup team getting ready for next week. That included Woods, a steady presence on the leaderboard. For Chalmers, satisfaction came from his name on the silver trophy again.
“I don’t know if it’s extra gratification,” Chalmers said of beating a field that included a 14-time major champion. “I’ve got my name twice on that Stonehaven Cup.”
Senden, the 54-hole leader, faltered early but gave himself a chance late with a good pitch across the 17th green for birdie. His long putt on the 18th went over the ridge and broke back toward the high side of the cup but missed by inches. He closed with a 72.
Defending champion Geoff Ogilvy had a seven-under 65 to tie for fourth with Adam Scott (68), Nick Watney (72), Nick O’Hern (72) and Jason Day, who hit his opening tee shot in the water and had a 74.
