Romero wins Senior Open; Singh ends tour drought

The 29th U.S. Senior Open will be remembered for the black bears that menaced the Broadmoor’s East Course -- and the one cat who conquered it.

Eduardo “El Gato” Romero on Sunday became the second Argentine golfer to hoist the silver cup, 28 years after Roberto de Vicenzo won the trophy at Winged Foot.

“This is very important, very important because we’re working hard for golf in Argentina,” Romero said after the biggest win of his career. “I’m back to Argentina with this cup! It’s mine!”

The 54-year-old Romero shot a three-over-par 73 in the final round at Colorado Springs, Colo., and, despite four straight bogeys on the back nine, he was never seriously challenged by Fred Funk (75), who finished four strokes back.

Romero, who finished at four-under 274 and won $470,000, is expecting a hero’s welcome when he returns today to Villa Allende in central province of Cordoba, the same city where his compatriots held a parade for 2007 U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera, whom Romero once sponsored on the European Tour.

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Vijay Singh nearly threw away the Bridgestone Invitational by missing three putts inside eight feet on the back nine at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. He won his first World Golf Championship by making the last one, which was all that mattered.

Singh ended an 0-for-34 drought on the PGA Tour by swirling in a 3 1/2 -foot par putt on the final hole to close with a two-under-par 68 for a one-shot victory over Lee Westwood and Stuart Appleby.

“What a relief,” Singh said. “I didn’t think I could finish it there at the end.”

Phil Mickelson played bogey-free through the first 14 holes to build a one-shot lead, then made three bogeys from the bunker on the final four holes to shoot 70 and finish two shots behind.

Singh, who finished at 10-under 270, had not won on U.S. soil since the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March 2007. His 32nd win on the PGA Tour put him in the record books for most victories by an international player.

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Parker McLachlin shot a two-over-par 74 and still cruised to his first PGA Tour victory by seven strokes at the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open in Nevada. McLachlin, in his second season on the tour, finished the tournament at 18-under 270. Brian Davis and John Rollins tied for second at 11-under 277.