Cink Pulls Out Big Rally, Ruling

Stewart Cink wants people to remember his nine-stroke comeback and gutty victory in five playoff holes at the MCI Heritage, not whether he broke a rule on his most critical shot.

“What I was afraid of is somehow I win this tournament and there may be question marks about it or an asterisk,” he said. “And if that’s the case, I’m really sorry.”

Cink birdied No. 16 Sunday to beat Ted Purdy after knocking a shot from a waste-high bunker about six feet from the hole at Hilton Head, S.C.

Television viewers called in saying Cink broke a rule by removing loose stones and impediments before his clutch bunker shot, and PGA officials watched about 10 replays of the shot with Cink before ruling it legal.

Cink and Purdy had asked PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White at the tee what Cink could clean up around his ball. TV cameras showed Cink crouch down and pick up debris around his ball as well as what looked like a line visible in the crushed shell surface.

Then Cink struck a marvelous shot into the sun that set up a birdie putt.

After Purdy made par, Cink rolled it in for his first victory since he won a tournament in 2000.

It was the second-biggest comeback on the PGA Tour since Paul Lawrie rallied from 10 strokes down to win the 1999 British Open.

Cink raised his putter in triumph, was given the tartan winner’s coat and posed smiling with his trophy. Then the drama began.

Said White: “I didn’t see a sand line. It looked like what he removed he was legally able to.”

Said Cink: “I knew I had done nothing wrong.”

Purdy didn’t see Cink’s setup. Even if he did, he didn’t want his first PGA Tour title handed to him on a technicality.

“I didn’t bring it up,” Purdy said. “But it was some shot.”

Cink and Purdy shook hands as White explained the ruling, ending a long tournament day.

“Honestly, it was a little stressful because you play and you win and you play great and you’re proud, and then all of a sudden you’ve got something you need to address,” Cink said. “So I’m not quite as happy as I was.”

Cink, who was so far back he teed off nearly two hours before Purdy, had six birdies and an eagle to catch Purdy at 10-under 274. Purdy started the round with a four-shot lead but struggled to a two-over 73.

Ernie Els shot a 69 to finish in a tie for third at eight-under, his same score of a week ago when he lost by a stroke to Phil Mickelson at the Masters. Cink’s winning birdie came after he and Purdy matched pars for four holes.

It was the third tournament title for a player remembered most before now for missing an 18-inch putt at the U.S. Open in 2001 that would’ve gotten him into a playoff.

“I’ve worked really hard on my game. I’ve been through some really tough stuff,” Cink said. “And mentally, I’ve been to the bottom of the barrel and back.”

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Tom Jenkins became the eighth Champions Tour winner in as many tour events this year, prevailing by five strokes over Rodger Davis with a seven-under 63 final round at the Blue Angels Classic at Milton, Fla.

It was the fifth Champions Tour victory of Jenkins’ career. Jenkins finished with a 14-under 196. Davis was at 201; and Gil Morgan, Jim Ahern and Wayne Levi tied for third another stroke back at 202.