GOLF : Norman Has a 63, Then Loses to Faldo on First Playoff Hole

As so many had done before him, Nick Faldo used a last-hole birdie to snatch victory from Greg Norman on Sunday.

This one came in sudden death in the richest event in golf, the season-ending, $2.7-million World Championship tournament. Norman had made up a five-shot deficit against Faldo and held a one-shot lead going to the 72nd hole.

Faldo got his approach about 15 feet from the flag. Norman, from the soft, wet sand of a fairway bunker, got his second shot within four feet of the flag.

Faldo then made his 15-footer for a birdie, completing a two-under 68 and drawing even with Norman. Norman missed, finishing with a par, a course-record 63 and a tie with Faldo at 274, six under on the Tryall Golf Club course.

On the first playoff hole, Norman’s pitching wedge approach was long, into tangled rough behind the green, while Faldo was on the front of the green. After Faldo two-putted for par, Norman came out long, then missed from 15 feet for his only bogey of the day.

Faldo won $550,000.

Despite the near miss, Norman said he would come out of the tournament with “a very good feeling.”

“It’s one of the best rounds I’ve ever played,” he said. “I didn’t come away with the win, but I come away with proof that my dedication and focus has got me back into golf.”