Tuesday 5 August 2014 11:12, UK
Geoff Ogilvy won his first PGA Tour event in four years as he claimed victory at the Barracuda Championship in Reno to also book his place in this week’s US PGA Championship.
While the eyes of most of the golfing world were on the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in Ohio, Ogilvy claimed 14 points in his final round in Nevada to finish on 49, five points ahead of nearest challenger Justin Hicks in a modified Stableford format.
Under the system, players receive eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, nothing for a par, minus-one for a bogey and minus-three for a double bogey or worse.
Australian Ogilvy has three WGC titles to his name, as well as a US Open, but has endured a barren few years and has seen his world ranking drop to 216.
He can be pleased with his week's work in the desert, though, after claiming his first title since the season opener in Hawaii in 2010.
A steady front nine saw Ogilvy reach the turn in 33 for six points after birdies at four, five and seven.
A dropped shot at 12 threatened to derail his bid but an eagle three on the par-five 13th produced five points and the following birdie gave the 37-year-old a comfortable cushion he would never relinquish as a birdie on the last put the icing on the cake.
Hicks had threatened to spoil the party and had held the lead during the final round after five birdies in his first seven holes saw him race to 10 points on the day.
Further birdies at 10 and 11 got him to 14 points but a dropped shot, and point, on 12 dropped him back to 13 before further birdies on 13 and 15 restored momentum.
The American then finished bogey-birdie to finish with 18 points on the day, seven better than his previous best of the week and a total of 44.
That was by far the best round of the day from any of the leading pack with John Huh and Jonathan Byrd, who both finished on 37 points, registering 11 on Sunday, the same as Australian Rod Pampling who finished a point further back for the tournament.
Scotland's Martin Laird was another point back after picking up 12 on Sunday and was five points clear of the next best European challenger, Sweden's David Lingmerth.
Two-time US Open winner Retief Goosen finished on 29 points while three-time major winner Padraig Harrington finished the week on 22 after registering just five over the weekend.
Ogilvy's win also secures him a place at the US PGA Championship which begins at Valhalla on Thursday.
