Des Smyth wins in windy conditions

Ireland's Des Smyth wasn't bothered by Sunday's unseasonably cold weather. In fact, it may have helped him pick up his second Champions Tour victory of the season.

Smyth won the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf by two shots over Tom Jenkins, despite winds gusting up to 30 mph out of the northwest and temperatures in the lower 50s.

"I have to say I suppose I have some small advantage,'' said Smyth, a native of Drogheda in County Louth. "This type of day back home is fairly regular for us.''

Smyth, two shots off the lead entering the final round, shot a 1-under 71 for a three-day total of 8-under 208 at The Club at Savannah Harbor, a 7,087-yard island layout in the middle of the Savannah River. Jenkins shot a 1-over 73 to finish with a 6-under 210.

Smyth was the only player under par in the final round. He took control of the tournament with birdies on the 14th and 15th holes.

"This was a strong wind, even for back home,'' said Smyth, who had 19 victories worldwide before turning 50 and coming to the United States to play on the Champions Tour. "I wouldn't play on a day like this, unless I was in a golf tournament.''

He drove the 324-yard 14th, which was playing downwind, but left his eagle putt 5 feet short.

At the par-3 15th, Smyth hit a 5-iron to within 2 feet for another birdie that put him three shots clear of Jenkins, second-round leader Wayne Levi and first-round leader Tom Purtzer.

"Because of the wind, I aimed it at a TV tower which was about 10 yards right of the target,'' Smyth said. "I hit the most beautiful draw that finished about 2 feet from the pin. It was an absolutely beautiful shot.''

Levi (76) and Purtzer (75) tied for third at 211. Jim Thorpe (73) was fifth at 212.

Even with Smyth in the clubhouse with the lead, however, there was still some drama -- only partly because of the golf. Levi, playing into the teeth of the wind, hit his tee shot into a hazard on the par-3 17th.

He had to play his second shot while a good-sized alligator looked on from a lagoon just a few feet behind him. Not surprisingly, he bogeyed the hole.

Jenkins, seeking his first win of the season, started the day two strokes off the pace and did just enough to manage the wind and stay out of too much trouble.

"You knew, from 15 on in, it was going to be a grind,'' Jenkins said. "I'm just glad it's over. It was kind of a survival thing out there. Des played really solid to win it.''

Smyth was the first international player to win the Legends since the late Harold Henning of South Africa won in 1993.

Divots: Defending champion Hale Irwin finished 6-over 222 on rounds of 71-76-75, including a triple-bogey 7 at No. 14 on Sunday. Irwin remained the leader in the Schwab Cup race with 703 points while Smyth, who won the SBC Classic on March 13, moved up to second with 659 points. ... Fuzzy Zoeller drove the par-4 14th, but four-putted for bogey. ... Several tees were moved up for the final round, especially those into the wind. The tee at No. 11, however, remained the same. The 11th, a 530-yard, par 5, played as the second-easiest hole on the course all week, averaging 4.795 strokes.

Email this page to a friend | Return to top of page