MELBOURNE// The former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy claimed his first title in his native Australia with a two-stroke victory over Mathew Goggin at the Australian PGA championship in Coolum, Queensland today. Ogilvy, the 2006 US Open champion, shot a flawless three-under par 69 to overhaul overnight leader Goggin and post a winning 14-under total of 274. "It feels pretty good. It's obviously been a really good week for me," Ogilvy said after his win at the Hyatt Regency resort course. "It has been a long time coming in Australia.
"I feel like I've been playing well over the last two or three months... and felt really good all week. "I missed a few putts earlier in the week but I knew (on Sunday) that I would make birdies because I was playing so well." Ogilvy was a model of consistency throughout the final day in temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius as he overhauled compatriot Goggin. The 34-year-old Goggin had started with a one-stroke lead and had extended it to three shots early in his round.
However, his lead started to disintegrate when he made successive bogeys at nine and 10 and his chances of winning evaporated when a wild hook off the tee on the par-five 15th found the water, which led to a bogey and gave Ogilvy the lead. Goggin also bogeyed the par-four 18th to finish with 72 and a 12-under 276, one stroke ahead of fellow Australians Peter Senior (69), Scott Strange (69) and last week's Australian Masters champion Rod Pampling (72), who finished tied for third.
The 31-year-old Ogilvy, who was annoyed yesterday at being asked about breaking his title drought at home, said he was pleased he would not have to answer questions about it again. "I don't have to answer any more questions next week (at the Australian Open in Sydney)," he said. "There is an element who might think that it's not a US tour field (and) there is no Mickelson, Garcia or Woods and it is easier (to win in Australia), but it's not.
"You only get two or three chances a year, whereas you get 20-odd (opportunities) in the US. It's nice that I have done it. I don't want to stop there and hopefully I can get a few more." *Reuters
