Sutton Has Eye of the Tiger in Greensboro Win

L.A. Times Archives

April 24, 2000 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Hal Sutton is one golfer who won’t shy away from comparisons to Tiger Woods.

“If ya’ll think that I deserve to be mentioned in the same paragraph [with Woods], then I feel good about where my game is right now,” Sutton told reporters Sunday after winning his second tournament in a month.

Sutton used some gutsy play down the stretch to shoot a final-round, one-under-par 71 and win the $3-million Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic at Greensboro, N.C.

“Tiger Woods sets the expectations high, doesn’t he?” Sutton said of the world’s No. 1 player. “If you want to play in the same game with him you have to elevate your own thinking. I’m certainly trying to.”

Four weeks ago, Sutton beat Woods in the Players Championship by one stroke.

Sunday, he had a one-shot lead over playing partner Andrew Magee with four holes left at Forest Oaks Country Club.

Again, Sutton came through, sinking a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 15 while Magee bogeyed for a two-shot swing that enabled the 20-year PGA Tour veteran to pick up his 13th career victory with a 14-under 274.

The $540,000 first-place prize moved Sutton to $2.3 million, his best season as a pro. It was also the fifth time in his career he has won two tournaments in a season.

“A lot of times as a player you see your game evolving in the direction that you want it to evolve before maybe the public sees it,” said Sutton, who hit 12 of 14 fairways in his final round. “Maybe your scores aren’t indicative of the way you played. But inside, you as a player, know that, ‘Hey, it’s coming, just keep being patient.’ ”

Sutton made his biggest move in this event in the first two days, going 13 under and building a big lead as he shot a 64 Friday. He was only one under over his final 36 holes. Magee’s one-under final round was good enough for second place, three shots back. Mark Calcavecchia and Dudley Hart tied for third, another shot back.

Larry Nelson finally escaped a second-place rut with one of the best final rounds in the Las Vegas Senior Classic.

Nelson shot an eight-under 64 at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, playing the final five holes in five under to win his first event of the year on the Senior PGA Tour. The win ended a streak of three consecutive second-place finishes. Nelson, who began the day tied for the lead with Bruce Fleisher at 11 under, made birdies on Nos. 14, 15 and 17. He also had an eagle on the par-five 16th, finishing with a tournament-record 19-under 197 to win by five shots.

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Final Results

$3-MILLION GREATER

GREENSBORO CHRYSLER CLASSIC

274 (-14)--$540,000

Hal Sutton: 67-64-72-71

277 (-11)--$324,000

Andrew Magee: 70-68-68-71

278 (-10)--$174,000

Mark Calcavecchia: 72-70-71-65

Dudley Hart: 72-67-69-70

3 tied at 281 (-7)