Herron Earns First Victory Since 1999

Tim Herron wishes he would have made it easier on himself. But after waiting seven years for another win on the PGA Tour, what’s two more holes?

“I guess I made it more fun for the viewers, and kept them tuned in,” Herron said.

Herron didn’t really enjoy the ending Sunday in the Colonial in Fort Worth until making a 9 1/2 -foot birdie putt on the 382-yard No. 17, the second playoff hole, to beat Richard Johnson.

The player affectionately known as “Lumpy” led throughout the final round before scrambling at the end. He needed clutch par-saving putts on the last two holes of regulation after a bogey at 188-yard No. 16, then two more holes to get his first victory since 1999.

“It went right in the middle. I couldn’t believe it,” Herron said. “It’s been a long time. I didn’t know if it would ever come.”

Johnson birdied the final two holes of regulation after he three-putted for bogey at No. 16, when he was three strokes behind Herron.

Herron closed with a two-under-par 68 to match Johnson (67) at 12-under 268.

Both had long drives before settling for two-putt pars on the first playoff hole, the 433-yard No. 18. They then went to No. 17, where Johnson’s approach was 25 feet short of the hole.

It was the first time since 1994 that extra holes were needed at Hogan’s Alley. Herron got the winner’s plaid jacket and $1.08 million -- more than what he made for his three previous victories combined.

Rod Pampling, who won at Bay Hill in March and was in the final group with Herron, had his second straight even-par round since his career-best 63 Friday. He finished alone in third, two strokes back.

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Lorena Ochoa extended her impressive run with a two-stroke victory in the Sybase Classic in New Rochelle, N.Y., the sixth straight tournament in which she has won or been the runner-up.

The 24-year-old native of Mexico closed a five-under 66 with a three-foot birdie putt to win the rain-shortened event and retake the season money lead, which she lost last week.

The tournament was shortened to 54 holes after heavy rain and a saturated course wiped out play Friday.

Ochoa, who won the Takefuji Classic in April and has four seconds and a fourth this season, started the final round four strokes off the lead.

Hee-Won Han, the tournament champion in 2003, had a closing 69 and tied for second with rookie Kyeong Bae, who matched Ochoa’s final-round 66.