Ogilvy back in the winner's circle

Geoff Ogilvy has earned a place in the PGA Championship after returning to the winner's circle, more than four years after his last win on the PGA Tour.

Geoff Ogilvy looked like the Geoff Ogilvy of old in capturing his first US PGA Tour title in four years at the alternate-field Barracuda Championship in Nevada.

The win snapped a lengthy victory drought on the circuit and revived Ogilvy’s career in what had been a horror stretch of play that was so bad it placed the 37-year-old’s playing status in jeopardy.

Using the modified Stableford format adopted by the Tour’s now-defunct International tournament (and the ANZ Championship once upon a time in Australia), Ogilvy picked 49 points from the Montreux Golf & Country Club layout to win by five points over American Justin Hicks.

Geoff Ogilvy in full flight during the final round. PHOTO: Getty Images.

The format rewards aggressive play (eight points for an albatross, five for an eagle, two for a birdie, zero for a par, minus-one for a bogey and minus-three for anything worse) and Ogilvy broke out of his funk and revelled in the format. He plundered two eagles and 22 birdies from the course against just five bogeys and no ‘others’ in his first visit to the event previously known as the Reno-Tahoe Open in 12 years.

The victory earned Ogilvy a place in this week’s US PGA Championship as well as the winners-only Hyundai Tournament of Champions, where he’s triumphed twice, plus a two-year exemption on Tour. A Masters invitation is not automatically offered to winners of alternate-field events but the FedEx Cup points, moneylist and world ranking boost have the 2006 US Open champion moving in the right direction for a return to Augusta National next April.

“Obviously, it feels like it’s been a long time coming,” Ogilvy said. “Feels like a long time ago, Maui in 2010. It’s been a bit rough the past few years. I was playing really well most of the year this year. I just didn’t make any putts, which was kind of the story for the past two or three years, which is usually the story when you ask a pro why isn’t he shooting good scores.

Ogilvy makes his putt at the 72nd hole to seal the victory. PHOTO: Getty Images

“It’s pretty satisfying. It’s pretty rough packing up in the locker rooms missing cuts and having bad finishes. People watch the TV and see all the fun and happiness of the PGA Tour, but it can be pretty desperately depressing as well spending time away from home, beating your head against the wall, just getting frustrated. Depressing is a bit strong a word, but really frustrating.

“Obviously, I’m happy I’m in the PGA. I haven't missed a PGA for a really long time. I had already mentally kind of checked out of it and have to check back into it, I guess, tonight. I don’t like missing the big tournaments. I love playing in the big tournaments.”

Ogilvy began strongly with an eight-birdie 64 on the opening day for 16 points that placed him within two points of the lead. He started the final round with a three-point edge over Nick Watney and Jason Allred. Neither pursuer placed any heat on Ogilvy in the final round as Hicks, playing several groups in front, posted the only score for the leader to keep an eye on. An eagle at the par-5 13th lifted Ogilvy to 45 points and ahead of Hicks’ 44. A birdie at 14 and three further pars gave Ogilvy the luxury of knowing a six or better at the par-5 18th would seal the title. He wisely laid up for his second shot then pitched to seven feet and rolled in the birdie putt for a convincing margin.

Rod Pampling enjoyed his best result anywhere since the 2012 Australian PGA with a fifth-place finish, the best among the rest of the Australians.

LEADERBOARD

Modified Stableford format

1. Geoff Ogilvy (Vic) 16-7-12-14—49

2. Justin Hicks (USA) 9-6-11-18—44

T3. John Huh (USA) 12-7-7-11—37

T3. Jonathan Byrd (USA) 7-6-13-11—37

5. Rod Pampling (Qld) 11-5-9-11—36

ALSO:

T8. Tim Wilkinson (NZ) 16-5-1-12—34

T42. Greg Chalmers (WA) 3-13-10-(-1)—25

T45. Oliver Goss (WA) 6-3-9-5—23