TEXAN Mark Brooks denied hometown hero Jeff Maggert a happy ending yesterday when he sank a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to win the $1.5 million tournament at the Tournament Players Course.
Brooks, who shot two-under-par 70, and Maggert, who posted an even-par 72, were deadlocked at 14-under-par 274 after completing 72 holes.
On the first play-off hole, both hit solid drives to the fairway. Maggert hit his approach to within 18 feet of the cup, while Brooks put his shot 30 feet behind the flagstick. Pulling first, Brooks rolled his putt into the left side of the hole for birdie. Maggert put his birdie try inches past the cup.
Brooks earned $270,000 for the victory, his second of the season. Brooks, who captured the Bob Hope Classic earlier this year, became the first native Texan to win the title since Lee Elder in 1976.
David Duval shot a 72 to finish one stroke off the pace at 275. Woody Austrin shot 73 for fourth place at 278.
Before he rolled in the birdie-winning putt at the 18th, Brooks made several clutch par-saving pulls. He made a good up-and-down from the bunker for par on the par-three 12th hole, sinking a 12-foot pull for par.
On the par-five 13th hole, he made a five-foot par pull and then added a 10-foot par save on the 14th. Brooks missed a 60-foot eagle try at 15, but tapped in for birdie to remain tied with Maggert.
Duval, playing in the last group with Maggert, was looking as though he would make it a three-way play-off until he missed the green on the 16th hole and bogeyed.
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