Mardy Fish gave everyone a day to remember on Saturday when he shot 63 and scored a record 37 points at the American Century Championship.
The former tennis star just needed a steady round on Sunday and that’s what he produced to get his first win in the event. He was also the first tennis professional to win in the 31-year history of the celebrity/athlete championship.
On the final day, Fish started round exactly the way he did on Saturday — with a bogey. That let Kyle Williams close the gap between the two players in what would be a two-man race to the title.
Fish bounced back with a birdie at the par three seventh and played steady the rest of the way. He slammed the door on Williams’ hopes when he birdied two of the final three holes to put up a winning 76-point effort. His final round was a different look from day two. He shot 72 but that was all he needed for an easy nine-point win. Williams finished solo second with 67 points, nine ahead of third-place John Smoltz. NBA star Steph Curry closed with a three-under par 69, one of the day’s best efforts and finished solo fourth with 56 points.
Pre-tournament favorite Tony Romo, who injured his wrist during Saturday’s second round, was forced to withdraw.
On the opposite end of the good golf spectrum was Charles Barkley. Good news for Barkley is that he didn’t finish last. Barkley birdied his last hole, the ninth, to shoot 50 on that side and 98 for the day. Former NFL star Eddie George tied Barkley with his own 98 but Barkley’s closing and only birdie of the tournament, took him to minus 68 points, three better than George.
Marc Warren Wins Austrian Open:
Marc Warren hadn’t tasted victory on the European Tour in six years. That changed on Sunday at the Austrian Open.
Warren, who started the day with a tied for the lead, shot a final round 70 at the Diamond Country Club and his 13-under par total edged Marcel Schneider (69) of the Netherlands by a shot.
The last win for Warren came at the 2014 Made In Denmark. Warren began the last round as a co-leader with Germany’s Nicolai Von Dellingshausen, but it was Schneider who emerged as Warrne’s main challenger. In the end, Warren birdied the 15th and 17th hole to end his victory drought.
“2014 was the last time I’ve won,” said Warren who carried his own bag for the 72 holes. “What’s happened on the golf course in the years since then, I’ve played very poorly. The break has been unfortunate for everyone but it came at a good time for me, spending some time at home and trying to get my game ready to play golf. It was nice to have such a long break with the family. The last few weeks I’ve been able to get some good work done and get ready to play golf. Came out of it pretty refreshed. Carrying my bag this week probably helped tone it down a little, just going out and playing and seeing what happens. The result couldn’t have been any better.”
Von Dellingshausen had a tough outing over the final 18. He shot 76 and fell into a tie for 15th.
Miguel Angel Jimenez shot 70 and finished in a tie for eighth.
