Rory Sabbatini wins Honda Classic

South Africa’s Rory Sabbatini survived a last round charge by Y.E. Yang of Korea to hold on for victory at The Honda Classic in Florida.

Rory Sabbatini
Fergus Bisset
By
published

South Africa's Rory Sabbatini survived a last round charge by Y.E. Yang of Korea to hold on for victory at The Honda Classic in Florida.

Sabbatini started the final round five shots clear of the field and he maintained that advantage through the first eight holes. But Yang made birdies at the 12th and 14th and Sabbatini made bogeys at the ninth and 14th meaning the lead was down to just one coming to the PGA National Course's famous closing stretch - "The Bear Trap."

The South African stayed calm though and he extended his lead to two with an excellent birdie on the difficult 16th. He then stood on the treacherous par-3 17th tee and found the heart of the green before a siren sounded to signal a halt in play because of lightning in the area.

Play was delayed for 30 minutes and, when it resumed, Sabbatini secured his par then did the same on the 18th. Although Yang made a birdie on the final hole to post a closing 66, Sabbatini won by a stroke.

"Luckily I had enough of a cushion that I didn't get too concerned," Sabbatini said. "I knew going into today that if I shot even par, it was going to be tough to catch."

Yang finished alone in second and was happy that the right man had won.

"He seemed really calm," said Yang. "I commend him for being, I guess, so emotionally stable. I wasn't."

Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell posted a course record-equalling 64 to move through the field and finish the week in a tie for sixth. It was a great confidence booster going into next week's WGC - Cadillac Championship.

The Honda Classic PGA National Champion Course, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida Mar 3-6, purse $5,700,000, par 70

1   Rory Sabbatini (RSA)   71   64   66   70   271   $1,026,000 2   Y.E. Yang (Kor)      68   71   67   66   272   $615,600 3   Jerry Kelly (USA)      71   67   68   67   273   $387,600 4   Ricky Barnes (USA)   70   68   71   67   276   $273,600 5   Tommy Gainey (USA)   71   67   71   68   277   $228,000 T6   Matt Bettencourt (USA)   70   70   69   69   278   $184,537 T6   Graeme McDowell (NIR) 73   71   70   64   278   $184,537 T6   Jeff Overton (USA)   69   72   69   68   278   $184,537 T6   Gary Woodland (USA)   71   68   68   71   278   $184,537

Note: Player in bold signifies Titleist ball usage only

Where Next? Centenary: Play in the Golf Monthly Centenary days

Fergus Bisset
Fergus Bisset
Contributing Editor

Fergus is Golf Monthly's resident expert on the history of the game and has written extensively on that subject. He has also worked with Golf Monthly to produce a podcast series. Called 18 Majors: The Golf History Show it offers new and in-depth perspectives on some of the most important moments in golf's long history. You can find all the details about it here.

He is a golf obsessive and 1-handicapper. Growing up in the North East of Scotland, golf runs through his veins and his passion for the sport was bolstered during his time at St Andrews university studying history. He went on to earn a post graduate diploma from the London School of Journalism. Fergus has worked for Golf Monthly since 2004 and has written two books on the game; "Great Golf Debates" together with Jezz Ellwood of Golf Monthly and the history section of "The Ultimate Golf Book" together with Neil Tappin , also of Golf Monthly.

Fergus once shanked a ball from just over Granny Clark's Wynd on the 18th of the Old Course that struck the St Andrews Golf Club and rebounded into the Valley of Sin, from where he saved par. Who says there's no golfing god?

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