Goosen Doesn’t Let Slow Start Faze Him in Victory

Retief Goosen began the final round of the BellSouth Classic at Duluth, Ga., with a bogey and a double-bogey, falling two shots behind Phil Mickelson. But the South African bounced back for a four-stroke victory over Jesper Parnevik, with Mickelson another shot back.

“I knew if I won or lost today, I was still going to wake up tomorrow morning and have to do it all over again,” said Goosen, who closed with a two-under-par 70 despite treacherous conditions on the TPC at Sugarloaf.

He’s so laid-back that countryman Ernie Els (The Big Easy) seems hyper by comparison. That attitude is understandable considering Goosen was struck by lightning as an amateur, damaging his heart and costing him some hearing in his left ear.

Goosen was tested again at last year’s U.S. Open, where he missed an 18-inch putt that would have given him the victory in regulation. He bounced back the following day to beat Mark Brooks in a playoff.

“I take it a little bit easier out there on the golf course now than I used to in the past,” Goosen said. “I’m not so hard on myself. I just try and enjoy the game a little bit more.”

Goosen pulled away from the field with a 16-under 272. Parnevik, who posted 65 early in the day for a 276, wasn’t even around when the winner finished.

Mickelson appeared to be Goosen’s main challenger, starting the final round two strokes back. The left-hander briefly claimed the lead, only to fade to a 73 and 277.

“I actually hit a lot of good shots,” Mickelson said. “I just had a hard time getting it close. It is hard to really describe. You just have to see it.”

Doug Tewell added to his impressive senior tour resume with a victory in the Legends of Golf at St. Augustine, Fla.

Tewell shot two-under 70 to finish the tournament at 11-under 205, one stroke better than Bobby Wadkins, who made a late run with a 66 in the final round.

Stewart Ginn shot 72 to tie with Bob Gilder (70) for third at eight-under.

The 52-year-old Tewell won for the second time this season. He also has two senior major championships to his name.

He hit all 14 fairways Sunday and finished the tournament hitting 41 of 42.

The only one he missed came Friday at No. 7, when he hooked a drive to the left.

“It was in the first cut of rough,” Tewell said.

“No big deal.”