Gogel wins as Perez fades

Redemption for Matt Gogel came in the right place Sunday at Pebble Beach, and it was just as stunning as his setback.

Two years after he was victimized by Tiger Woods' incredible comeback, Gogel holed a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole and won the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when Pat Perez took a triple bogey on the final hole.

Gogel closed with a 3-under 69 for his first PGA Tour victory.

This one will be remembered more for a collapse far more spectacular than when Gogel squandered a seven-stroke lead over Woods with seven holes to play.

After a 6-foot birdie putt on the 17th to take a one-stroke lead, Perez hit his tee shot over the gallery and into a hedge. Once it was found, PGA Tour rules officials deemed it was out of bounds by a few feet.

Perez was walking back to the 18th tee to hit his third shot when he heard a roar that the walk even longer -- Gogel holed his birdie putt, sweeping his arm in a big uppercut to celebrate the biggest putt of his career.

Perez reloaded and found the fairway, then hooked his fourth shot into the Pacific Ocean to hand Gogel the tournament.

``It's a funny game,'' said Gogel, who finished at 274. ``I feel for Pat because I've been in that position. I'm just glad I made that last putt.''

It was no laughing matter for Perez, the 25-year-old winner of Q-school with a short fuse that was on display throughout a tumultuous final round. He finished with a 76, making only five pars, and finished three strokes behind.

Perez started the final round with a four-stroke lead. It was the largest collapse in the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am since Ted Kroll squandered a four-stroke lead in 1961 by closing with an 81.

Adding to the pain was his history in these parts. Two years ago, Perez had a four-stroke lead going into the final round of the Monterey Peninsula Classic on the Buy.com Tour, but closed with a 77 to finish third.

``I don't know what it is about this town,'' Perez said. ``I can't get it done. Hopefully, I'll come out of it some day.''

Gogel became the third straight player to come from at least four shots back on the final day to win at Pebble Beach, and he picked up $720,000 for the victory.

Two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen had a 73 and tied for third at 278 with Andrew Magee, who had a 72.

Woods tied for the low round of the day, a 4-under 68, but was never a factor Sunday for the second straight year at Pebble Beach, scene of his record-setting victory in the U.S. Open.

``It's a lot harder now when you don't know where the ball is going,'' Woods joked. He finished at 282, eight strokes behind.

Woods was out of the pictures, but the thrills didn't leave with him on another gorgeous day along the rugged coastline of Pebble Beach.

Up-and-down throughout the day, Perez seemingly seized control by pitching in for birdie behind the 13th green for a one-stroke lead, only to give it right back with the kind of meltdown that figured to take him out of the tournament.

From the middle of the fairway on the par-5 14th, he sliced a 3-wood out of bounds, dropping to a catcher's squat in shock. His next shot went left, and Perez showed his quick temper by slamming his 3-wood into the soft turf.

He took double bogey, which turned into a two-stroke deficit when Gogel, playing in the group ahead, rolled in a 10-foot birdie.

Perez somehow regrouped.

A wedge into 2 feet on the next hole stopped the bleeding, and he holed a a tricky 4-foot par putt on the 16th to keep Gogel in range.

The par-3 17th produced another swift change in momentum, this time Gogel walking off the green looking like he wanted to go straight over the cliff.

He rolled his 30-foot birdie putt about 5 feet past the hole and caught the left lip coming back, taking a bogey. As he stood on the 18th tee, he heard a massive roar and turned his head to see Perez' 7-iron on the 17th come down 6 feet from the hole.

Perez made that for birdie to take a one-stroke lead, walking to the famous closing hole with the confidence of a champion.

Like everything else along the back nine Sunday, it didn't last long.

Divots

Woods took an interesting approach to No. 13, hooking his drive so badly that it went to the far edge of the adjacent ninth fairway, about 15 feet from going over the cliff. His caddie, Steve Williams, had to walk off the yardage to the flag -- 116 yards. Woods flew his wedge 115 yards, the ball hopping past the pin to about 5 feet. He lipped out for birdie. ``I asked Stevie to do the Pythagorean theory,'' Woods said. ``He didn't know what that was.'' ... Gogel becomes the second player this year to earn his first PGA Tour victory. Jerry Kelly won at the Sony Open. ... Gogel went over the $2 millionmark in career earnings, more than half of that coming at Pebble Beach.

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