Finally, Jacobsen Prevails

Peter Jacobsen shot a three-under par 67 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory at the Greater Hartford Open, his first PGA Tour title in eight years.

Jacobsen, who also won the tournament in 1984, had a share of the lead for all four rounds and led by one stroke after 54 holes. He’ll be listed as the final winner of the event, which becomes the Buick Championship next year.

The thousands lining the hills along No. 18 greeted Jacobsen with loud and lasting cheers as he made his way up the fairway. The final round drew more than 70,000 fans to the TPC at River Highlands. The 49-year-old Jacobsen finished 14 under for the tournament with a 266, two strokes better than playing partner Chris Riley.

As Jacobsen’s final putt dropped, his 21-year-old daughter Kristen ran onto the green and into his arms. She was a toddler the last time he won here. His $720,000 payday on Sunday was 10 times larger than it was 19 years ago.

Jacobsen said that when he was 30 he thought he should win every week. “You think you’re going to do it again and again,” he said. “It doesn’t happen that way. I think it makes this victory that much sweeter. I think I’ll appreciate it a lot more.”

Jacobsen was the sentimental favorite as the tournament unfolded. It opened with the much heralded appearance of Suzy Whaley, the local teaching pro who became the first woman to qualify for a PGA event since Babe Zaharias in 1945. She bowed out Friday at 13 over.

Todd Fischer, who had a final-round 65, finished third with 11 under. Craig Barlow and Kenny Perry each shot 69 to join Steve Pate (67) in fourth, four strokes back.

Jacobsen played a sure and steady round in windy conditions, scrambling to save pars. His four-birdie round included one bogey when he missed a three-footer for par on the par-three fifth hole.

Jovial and relaxed for 18 holes, Jacobsen bantered with the crowd, shaking hands as he walked to the tees. He waited for a butterfly to flutter off his line on the third hole, explaining to the crowd, “I don’t want to hurt the butterfly.”

When a young boy sped by in a dirt bike along railroad tracks that lined the 14th fairway, Jacobsen took it in stride, pumping his fist in the air as if to say “way to go.”

Riley was one stroke back at the start of the day but quickly got in trouble, hitting his first tee shot out of bounds. He would hit another out of bounds later in the round for two more penalty strokes.

“You just can’t hit two balls out of bounds on Sunday and win an event,” Riley said. “You know how the crowds are here in Hartford. They’re just huge. Maybe I got a little caught up in the moment.”

Riley played himself back into contention with an eagle on the 296-yard 15th hole to pull within two strokes at 11 under.

Jacobsen responded with a birdie on the 17th, the par-four signature water hole at the TPC at River Highlands. He then proceeded to the winner’s circle for the first time since 1995.

His daughter, Kristen, had never seen Jacobsen win. A senior at New York University, she arrived at the course Sunday morning.

“I came in by bus,” she said. “but we’re going home in a limo.”