Gogel closes strong, wins PGA Pebble Beach title

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Redemption for Matt Gogel came in the right place Sunday at Pebble Beach, and it was just as stunning as his setback.

Two years after he was victimized by Tiger Woods' incredible comeback, Gogel holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when Pat Perez took a triple bogey on the final hole.

Gogel closed with a 3-under 69 for his first PGA Tour victory.

"It's a funny game," said Gogel, who finished at 274. "I feel for Pat because I've been in that position. I'm just glad I made that last putt."

This one will be remembered more for a collapse far more spectacular than when Gogel squandered a seven-stroke lead over Woods with seven holes to play.

"I don't know what it is about this town," Perez said. "I can't get it done. Hopefully, I'll come out of it some day."

Gogel became the third straight player to come from at least four shots back on the final day to win at Pebble Beach, and he picked up $720,000 for the victory.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen had a 73 and tied for third at 278 with Andrew Magee, who had a 72.

Heineken Classic

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Ernie Els brushed off a mid-round challenge from Greg Norman to complete a start-to-finish victory.

In cool, blustery conditions, Els led from the first round to the last on the Royal Melbourne composite course to close with a 3-under 69 and a 17-under-par total of 271.

That gave him a five-shot victory over David Howell, who shot a 68 Sunday, and Peter Fowler (67) and Peter O'Malley (70).

Norman birdied five of six holes through 10 to pull within two shots of Els, but a run of pars and back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 moved him out of contention.

Dimension Data Pro-Am

SUN CITY, South Africa -- Retief Goosen had seven birdies en route to a 6-under-par 66 to win by three strokes over Scott Drummond.

Goosen, coming off a victory in the Johnnie Walker Challenge in Perth, Australia, used good iron play to break out of a third-round tie with Drummond., Goosen had just one bogey Sunday, at No. 5, on the 7,042-yard Gary Player Country Club course.

Jaco van Zyl closed with a 69 to finish third at 273, and Tjaart van der Walt had a 67 and wound up fourth at 274.

Royal Caribbean Classic

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla.-- John Jacobs drove into a water hazard on the final hole but escaped with a one-stroke victory in the rain-shortened event.

Jacobs salvaged a par and closed with a 6-under-par for an 11-under 133 total. He won for the fourth time on the Senior PGA Tour.

Sharing second in the $1.45 million event were Isao Aoki (64), Bruce Fleisher (68) and Tom Watson (66). Aoki, runner-up last year, had the day's best round.

The tournament, the first full-field event of the year, was reduced to 36 holes after rain washed out Friday's round.

-- From wire reports