Golf Roundup: Gomez rallies to win in playoff

That unbelievable birdie streak – no putt longer than 12 feet – carried him to an 8-under 62, and the 37-year-old Argentine won with his 11th birdie of the day on the second playoff hole to outlast Brandt Snedeker.

Zac Blair missed a 2-foot birdie putt on his final hole Saturday and had to settle for a share of the lead with Brandt Snedeker at the Sony Open.

Fabian Gomez, of Argentina, flashes a Hawaiian “shaka” sign as he holds the winning trophy after the final round of the Sony Open golf tournament Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, in Honolulu.

The most common mistakes on fringe putts are to make a too-large arm swing and decelerate into the ball, or to skip reading the complete line of the shot like any other putt.

Blair, who wasn’t informed about the controversy while playing the final hole, had a 15-foot putt for eagle on the 18th to join Snedeker and Gomez in the playoff. “He had a 10’4” chance for eagle at the par-5 last to join the playoff, but missed right.

Snedeker and Blair, co-leaders overnight, stumbled early with bogeys at the par-three fourth, before Blair made his move with birdies at the fifth, seventh and eighth, where he drained a 20-footer, to forge two strokes clear at 18 under. And I drove all through the night to get there. Seeking to become the oldest victor in PGA Tour history the 52-year-old Fijian racked up seven birdies with his cross-handed putting style on the tight palm tree-lined layout at Waialae Country Club.

“I’m really excited about being able to get in the Olympics”, Gomez said.

“Plus, if you’re nervous at all, you’re going to have more luck getting it close with a putter than trying to hit a little chip shot”, he says.

Europe won the singles 91/2-21/2 after going 41/2-11/2 each in the fourball and foursomes matches at Glenmarie.

Poulter beat Malaysia’s Danny Chia 4 and 3, Westwood topped Malaysia’s Nicholas Fung 7 and 6, and Sullivan beat Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee 4 and 3.

The South African finished with a 3-under 69 for an 18-under total of 269 at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club. South Africa’s Zander Lombard had a 71 to finish second.

Two-time defending champion Jimmy Walker finished with nine straight pars for a 68 to finish on 3-under 137, to just make the cut. He still made up two strokes with a six-under outing to tie Snedeker, who was perched atop the leaderboard after the first two rounds.

I always remember I won a Tar Heel Tour event in Greensboro and I had to be in Memphis the next day for my U.S. Open sectional qualifying.