Leishman adds to Aussie wins; Woods stunned by news of Kobe’s death

SAN DIEGO, Jan 27: Marc Leishman and Jon Rahm were not playing in the same group. The Australian was two groups and 20 minutes ahead of Rahm, who started the final day one shot of his nearest rival Ryan Palmer (77) and four ahead of Leishman (65). Rahm suffered in the first five holes with two bogeys and a double and made up in the last six with four birdies and eagle with a bogey in between and fell one short.

Leishman finished at 15-under 273 to capture his fifth PGA TOUR title as Rahm was second at 14-under while Rory McIlroy (69) and Brandt Snedeker (68) were tied third at 12-under.

Tiger Woods, trying to set the PGA TOUR record with his 83rd career victory, shot 70 and tied for ninth. He was six shots behind the winner

Later Woods learnt about the tragic helicopter crash north of Los Angeles that left nine people including basketball legend, Kobe Bryant and his daughter dead. Woods and Bryant began their pro careers the same year.

Woods said, “I didn’t understand why they were yelling, ‘Do it for Mamba’ on the back nine.”

He added, “It was one of the most shocking, tragic days I’ve ever been part of.”

Rahm could have been in a play-off without that bogey on 15th or with a 50-foot eagle on 18th, instead of a birdie. But Leishman did not have the luxury of knowing all this – he just had to keep gaining strokes and he got one final one with a six-footer birdie on 18thand that proved to be the winning one.

Leishman ran off five birdies on the front nine to get into the frame as Rahm and Rory McIlroy (69) faltered. Leishman also saved crucial pars and that was the difference especially on the tough stretch at Torrey Pines. A final birdie saw him set the clubhouse target at 15-under.

Rahm’s beginning was a nightmare, none worse than the par-3 third as he went left into the canyon and needed three shots to reach the green for a double bogey. Still he kept coming back, but that final one shot eluded him – he needed an eagle where he got a birdie on 18th. Three years ago, Rahm won his first PGA TOUR title at Torrey Pines with a 65 that was capped with a 60-foot eagle putt on the last hole.

Halfway across the world another Australian won in a play-off Lucas Herbert in Dubai Desert Classic on the European Tour earlier to spark of a double celebration marking the Australia Day (January 26).

McIlroy, needing a victory to return to No. 1 in the world, started three shots behind in the final group and opened with two straight bogeys, following which he missed a short birdie attempt on the third and then immediately pulled his tee shot into the hazard and had to scramble for bogey on fourth. Yet between fifth and ninth he fought back with three birdies and an eagle. Still he fell short by three.

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