Baddeley overtakes Quinney in final holes, wins FBR Open

Aaron Baddeley had already conquered the pressure of leading down the stretch on the PGA Tour. Jeff Quinney still hasn't.

Baddeley birdied three of the final four holes and took advantage of Quinney's late collapse Sunday for a one-stroke victory in the FBR Open in Scottsdale, Ariz., the Australian's second win on the tour.

It was a dramatic late turnaround for two golfers who are virtually neighbors in north Scottsdale.

Baddeley trailed Quinney by three shots with four holes to go but birdied the 15th, 16th and 17th holes en route to his second PGA Tour victory. The 26-year-old Australian, who also has U.S. citizenship, won the Verizon Heritage last year.

"I'm sure Jeff is disappointed with the way he finished, but I was just trying to put pressure on him towards the end," Baddeley said. "When I got three back, I was really just thinking if I can be one back playing the last hole, I've got a chance."

Aaron Baddeley acknowledges the crowd after he eagled the third hole during the final round of the FBR Open golf tournament Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at the TPC in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

As it turned out, he was 1-up with one hole to go.

Baddeley said he felt different after winning this one than he in his initial PGA Tour victory.

"The first one felt more of a relief," he said, "where this one is more like `All right, now we're making headway to where I want to go. ... I want to be the best."

Quinney, a PGA Tour rookie after five seasons on the Nationwide Tour, had led since late in the second round but bogeyed the final two holes, marking the third straight tournament he has led or shared the lead in the last round but failed to win.

His misery began when his tee shot splashed into the water at the 332-yard, par-4 17th. After his drop, his third shot landed just 4 feet from the cup, but he missed the short putt for a bogey.

Baddeley, meanwhile, rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th to go from one shot behind to one ahead.

Baddeley shot his second consecutive 7-under 64 to finish at 21-under 196. John Rollins tied the best round of the week at 63 and was second at 20 under, one shot ahead of Quinney (68). Bart Bryant was 18 under and Billy Mayfair followed at 17 under.

"You knew a lot of birdies were going to be flying," Rollins said. "The weather was perfect, the golf course has been fantastic all week. You just knew you had to make a bunch of birdies."

Baddeley earned $1.08 million for the victory under bright sunshine at the TPC Scottsdale.

Quinney tried to be satisfied with his third consecutive top-seven finish.

"I'm just going to look back and learn a few things this week," he said. "I mean, if you would have told me this a couple of weeks ago, that I've made whatever amount of money I made, I'd take that in a second."

Going from first to third cost Quinney $672,000 in prize money.

"You know, I'm still a very confident player," he said. "I'm not going to let this baring me down at all. I can learn from it and just get better next time."

European Open

Sweden's Henrik Stenson won the Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, closing with a 4-under 68 to finish a stroke ahead of Ernie Els and two in front of defending champion Tiger Woods.

Stenson, two strokes behind Els entering the round, had a 19-under 269 total on the Emirates Golf Club course. Els finished with a 71, and Woods who shot a 69 to tie for third with Sweden's Niclas Fasth (68).

Women's Australian Open

Australian star Karrie Webb won her third Women's Australian Open title, shooting an even-par 72 for a six-stroke victory in Sydney, Australia.

Webb, also the 2000 and 2002 winner, finished with a 10-under 278 total on the Royal Sydney course. Wei Yun-jye of Taiwan closed with a 74 to finish second.

-- From wire reports