AUSTRALIA'S Stuart Appleby made a spectacular eagle he dubbed a miracle on the 14th hole and went on to capture his first United States PGA Tour title at Coral Springs yesterday.
The 25-year-old survived a 36-hole endurance test, forced when rain washed out play on Friday, to take the $270,000 top prize at the $1.5 million Honda Classic.
"It was a lot of luck, really a lot of luck," Appleby said. "Today was a struggle. I just didn't want to lay down, to stop playing golf. I wanted to stay at it. I didn't drive the ball great or putt great. But it was fun staying in there."
Appleby's victory qualified him for next month's Masters as well as the Players Championship in two weeks. He will play next week in Orlando at the Bay Hill course where he resides under a sponsors' exemption.
A third-round 67 in the morning set up Appleby's final-round 71 in the afternoon, leaving him at 14-under par 274 for the tournament, one stroke better than Americans Payne Stewart and Michael Bradley. Scotland's Colin Montgomerie was fourth at 277.
Appleby began the final round one stroke ahead but trailed Stewart by two strokes as they played the 14th hole. The Aussie was buried in deep rye grass 140 yards from the green and blasted out with a wedge.
The ball soared over a sand trap, landed at the edge of the green and rolled 20 feet straight to the cup, looking like it was being pulled by a magnet as it rotated quickly into the flagstick and dropped into the hole.
"That's a miracle. I'm amazed it found the hole," Appleby said seconds after watching the ball vanish into the green. Appleby dropped his club and raised his hands in exultation at the result.
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