Playoff extends nine extra holes
Associated Press
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (March 4) -- Jose Maria Canizares couldn't remember having to play this much golf in one day.
Canizares sank a 24-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole in a sudden death playoff to beat Gil Morgan in the Toshiba Senior Classic today.
"This is the longest playoff I have ever been in," Canizares said. "I think my longest playoff was six holes. You get tired when it is this long."
Canizares, a 54-year-old Spaniard, missed several chances earlier in the playoff before sinking the winning putt. Canizares won $210,000 and captured his first Senior PGA Tour event. He had four second-place finishes going into the week's event.
Canizares and Morgan finished regulation with an 11-under 202.
Canizares started today's round five shots behind the leader, Terry Mauney, who finished with a 6-over 77, tied for 10th.
Morgan, who earned $123,200 as the tournament runner-up, started the day eight shots behind the lead, firing a 7-under par 64.
Canizares sank a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation to force the playoff.
Both men fought back and forth on the first seven playoff holes before settling for pars on the eighth playoff hole.
Morgan missed his birdie attempt on the ninth playoff hole from 40 feet out, leaving it short about 6 feet. Canizares then followed with his winning putt.
"It is very nice to win because I am playing with some of the best players in the world," Canizares said. "And in golf you have 18 holes, so I think you always think you have a chance to win."
The tournament faced the threat of rain as cloudy skies covered the course all afternoon. Last year's tournament was rain-shortened to 36 holes.
The last playoff in Toshiba history was two years ago when Gary McCord won in a four-way playoff.
The Toshiba Senior Classic became the only tournament in Senior PGA Tour history to surpass $1 million in charitable contributions the last two years.
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