VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) - Brian Campbell cashed in on a huge break Sunday when his tee shot in a playoff bounced out of the trees and back into play, leading to a birdie on the second extra hole to win the Mexico Open over Aldrich Potgieter.
Brian Campbell wins Mexico Open for 1st PGA Tour title; Angel Yin takes Honda LPGA Thailand.
VALLARTA, Mexico (AP) - Brian Campbell cashed in on a huge break Sunday when his tee shot in a playoff bounced out of the trees and back into play, leading to a birdie on the second extra hole to win the Mexico Open over Aldrich Potgieter.
Campbell, who closed with a 1-under 70 at Vidanta Vallarta, won for the first time since he turned pro a decade ago and the timing could not have been better. The victory sends him to the Masters, The Players Championship and the PGA Championship, along with five of the signature events left on the tour schedule.
Campbell and Potgieter, who shot 71, each made birdie on the 18th in regulation and began the playoff with a par. Returning to the par-5 closing hole for the third time - a big advantage for the 20-year-old South African with his power - the 31-year-old Campbell hit a low, hard fade toward the out-of-bounds stakes.
But it crashed into the trees and popped back out into the rough. He still was 94 yards behind Potgieter, but at least he had a shot. He hit fairway metal to 68 yards short, and hit a lob wedge to 4 feet. Potgieter came up a foot short and into a bunker. He blasted out some 6 feet by and missed the birdie putt to the left.