December 14, 2008

SOUTH African Tim Clark doesn't feel appreciated in his native land, but he might have found a new home after capturing the $1.5 million Australian Open in dramatic circumstances.

The world No.42 prevailed in a playoff over Australian Mathew Goggin after New Zealand's David Smail threw away what appeared an almost certain victory.

Smail led by three shots with four holes remaining, but carded consecutive double-bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes to finish on eight-under, one shot out of the playoff.

It then took just one extra hole for a winner to be declared, Clark getting up and down out of a greenside bunker for par, while Goggin three-putted for bogey as the South African grabbed the $270,000 first prize and the Stonehaven Cup.

Goggin was left with another disappointment after also finishing second behind Geoff Ogilvy at the Australian PGA at Coolum.

Clark had felt his final round five-under 67 wasn't quite enough, but Smail's meltdown opened the door and the South African, who turns 33 on Wednesday, accepted the invitation.

"I didn't even consider there would be a playoff until about 30 minutes after I finished," he said.

"I was watching the TV having a pie and chips, believe it or not, and thought I better get down there and warm-up.

"It's obviously a bonus to get into the playoff and I feel bad for David the way he finished.

"Then in the playoff I won it like that too. It's tough to win like that but at the end of the day, I'm the winner."

One would assume a man who has twice won the South African Open and finished runner-up at the US Masters would be lauded at home, but Clark has felt more appreciated in Australia over the past three weeks.

"In all honesty I've felt more welcome here than I do when I go home," he said.

"People have been very excited for me to be here playing.

"I can feel the appreciation from the people around that I'm here playing and I don't feel that when I'm at home.

"That's probably why I came down here this year."

That appreciation will only grow after winning the Open and he plans to return next year.

"I guess I'll have to now," he said with a smile.

"I was probably going to come back and just play (the Australian Masters) and Coolum but that's going to have to change."

Both Clark and Goggin were rather subdued after the playoff as they felt for Smail, who seemingly had the Cup in his grasp.

"I'm just gutted," Smail said afterwards.

“I was a bit shattered after that (double-bogey on the 15th). I just really lost my way."


APGA: Australian Open
Pos Name NAT Hole To Par 1 2 3 4 Total
1 Tim Clark RSA F -9 70 73 69 67 279
2 Mathew Goggin AUS F -9 65 70 75 69 279
T3 Stephen Dartnall AUS 16 -8 65 68 75 72 280
T3 Robert Allenby AUS 17 -8 71 67 71 71 280
T3 David Smail NZL 15 -8 67 68 70 75 280
T6 Chris Gaunt AUS 17 -7 70 65 74 72 281
T6 Geoff Ogilvy AUS F -7 72 71 70 68 281
T6 Steven Conran AUS F -7 70 66 75 70 281
T6 Andre Stolz AUS 15 -7 69 71 66 75 281
10 Richard Green AUS F -6 71 72 71 68 282