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WGC Notebook As marker, Baker-Finch proves he can still play
SOTOGRANDE, Spain (AP) -- Ian Baker-Finch can still play. The Australian was 4-under after 16 holes Sunday playing at Valderrama as a non-competing partner with Scott Verplank. "I hit it in the fairway," said Baker-Finch, who never recaptured the form he showed in winning the 1991 British Open and subsequently retired. "I was very comfortable, very confident and just went out and played golf." "He was playing great," said Verplank, who shot a 2-under 70 to finish at 297. "He drove the ball down the middle of the fairway, hit it on and didn't miss when he had a chance." Baker-Finch's undoing was the par-5 17th, where he took a 10 after dropping three balls into the pond guarding the green. A "babied" 3-wood went straight into the water, then two drops both hit near the flag and spun off the sloping green into the drink. "I just got unlucky from the drop zone," he said. "It wasn't a bad shot, it wasn't nerves -- it wasn't any major problem." He finished with a 2-over 74. Verplank, who first played with Baker-Finch in 1985 on the PGA Tour and has endured his own playing slumps, said he liked what he saw. "I told him, `You can turn it around. Anything can happen.' I was encouraged. He's a great guy and he's been a great player," Verplank said. Baker-Finch, who works as a golf commentator for ABC, last played a tournament three years ago and will play in the upcoming Australian PGA. "I work 26 weeks of the year for television -- I cannot play as well," he said.
Westwood wrests Euro money title from MontyLee Westwood ended Colin Montgomerie's seven-year reign as Europe's top money winner Sunday.Westwood shot a 5-under-par 67 for a 279 total in the American Express Championship, earning enough prize money to overtake Darren Clarke, who was No. 1 entering the season-ending event. By winning the $500,000 second-place check after finishing two shots behind Mike Weir, Westwood finished the season with $2,657,780. Clarke, who shot a 70 Sunday for 288, wound up with European tour winnings of $2,311,740. Montgomerie, who had to win the $1 million first prize to have a chance of claiming his eighth straight title, shot a 74 for 289. Westwood called it one of the most nerve-racking rounds of his career. "It is more emotional than I have ever been," he said. "There was nothing quite like today playing that well under this pressure. I think if you watch the highlights you'll see my knees shaking." Westwood said he made a one-pound wager with Clarke in August about who would win the money title. "As soon as I got to the scorer's tent, he [Clarke] gave it to me," Westwood said. "I'm going to go home and frame it." Clarke blamed himself after entering the tournament with an $87,000 lead over Westwood. "I had a chance ... to finish at the top if I played well," the Northern Irishman said. "I wasn't able to do that." Montgomerie wound up No. 6 on the money list with $1,480,573. Ernie Els was No. 3 with $1,711,810, followed by Michael Campbell with $1,695,426, and Thomas Bjorn with $1,641,088.
Adios SergioSergio Garcia, without a victory in his second season, fired an 8-under 64 Sunday to end the 2000 season."They all say this season has been worse than the first, and it probably was a little ... because I haven't had a victory the whole year," the Spaniard said. Garcia finished at 7-under 281 and had an eagle Sunday at the par-5 fourth to go with six birdies. "I played a lot of good golf, I had a lot of chances to win," he said. "I couldn't. I just missed one or two victories, but other than that I felt very comfortable how I played. "To finish with a 64 in my home country was the way you want to finish."
Parnevik pulls out on SundayJesper Parnevik withdrew from Sunday's final round with an upset stomach. The Swede shot 73-76-77 and was the third player to withdraw after play began Thursday.Ernie Els and Rocco Mediate withdrew with back problems. In addition, 14 players in the original field of 69 - including 12 Americans - withdrew before play began.
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