Baddeley grabs second US win
Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2007 11:46 amAaron Baddeley closed with two rounds of 64 to win the FBR Open today, recording his second victory in 12 months on the US PGA Tour.
Baddeley, who lives five minutes from the golf course, made three birdies in his final four holes to slip past American Jeff Quinney, who shot a 68.
Quinney bogeyed the 17th and 18th and fell back to third behind fellow American John Rollins, who shot a 63.
Baddeley, 25, took advantage of near-perfect conditions at the TPC Course to record six birdies and an eagle, against just one bogey.
His wife Richelle was standing beside the final green to embrace him after he tapped in the winning putt.
Baddeley, who missed the cut in his previous tournament, fired rounds of 65-70-64-64, a total of 21-under par.
He won $US1,080,000 ($1.4 million) and kept up Australia's impressive strike rate on the world's richest golf tour.
Baddeley, a dual Australian Open winner, won the Verizon Heritage title last year, one of eight tournaments captured by Australians.
Starting the final round two strokes off the pace, Baddeley gained early momentum with an eagle at the 3rd and put himself into a winning position with three straight birdies on 15, 16 and 17.
"I just tried to hang in there and thought if I could be one behind going into the last that I'd be a chance," Baddeley said.
"But I ended up being one in front so it was a bonus.
"I hit a perfect shot on 15, probably the best second shot I've hit all week and then a great putt on 16 went in exactly how I thought.
"It was just awesome."
Peter Lonard was the best of the other Australians, closing with a 69 for a share of 14th, nine shots behind Baddeley. It was his best finish of the year.
Baddeley's victory catapulted him to fourth on the Fed Ex Cup rankings, behind Rollins, Vijay Singh and Charles Howell III.
Baddeley, who lives five minutes from the golf course, made three birdies in his final four holes to slip past American Jeff Quinney, who shot a 68.
Quinney bogeyed the 17th and 18th and fell back to third behind fellow American John Rollins, who shot a 63.
Baddeley, 25, took advantage of near-perfect conditions at the TPC Course to record six birdies and an eagle, against just one bogey.
His wife Richelle was standing beside the final green to embrace him after he tapped in the winning putt.
Baddeley, who missed the cut in his previous tournament, fired rounds of 65-70-64-64, a total of 21-under par.
He won $US1,080,000 ($1.4 million) and kept up Australia's impressive strike rate on the world's richest golf tour.
Baddeley, a dual Australian Open winner, won the Verizon Heritage title last year, one of eight tournaments captured by Australians.
Starting the final round two strokes off the pace, Baddeley gained early momentum with an eagle at the 3rd and put himself into a winning position with three straight birdies on 15, 16 and 17.
"I just tried to hang in there and thought if I could be one behind going into the last that I'd be a chance," Baddeley said.
"But I ended up being one in front so it was a bonus.
"I hit a perfect shot on 15, probably the best second shot I've hit all week and then a great putt on 16 went in exactly how I thought.
"It was just awesome."
Peter Lonard was the best of the other Australians, closing with a 69 for a share of 14th, nine shots behind Baddeley. It was his best finish of the year.
Baddeley's victory catapulted him to fourth on the Fed Ex Cup rankings, behind Rollins, Vijay Singh and Charles Howell III.
