Sutton captures first title of year
Associated Press
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (April 22) -- Hal Sutton shot a 3-under-par 69 in windy conditions Sunday for a three-stroke victory over Joe Durant and Lee Janzen in the Houston Open.
Sutton started the final round two strokes behind Durant, who was trying to join Tiger Woods as the only three-time winners on the PGA Tour this year.
Sutton, who earned $612,000 for his 14th PGA Tour victory, finished with a 10-under 278 total.
Janzen shot a 73, and Durant had a 74. John Cook (69) and Justin Leonard (69) were another stroke back at 282.
Sutton avoided big trouble when he hit his second shot in the water on No. 7, but had a long-range putt to get a bogey.
"That [bogey] was the turning point for me," the 42-year-old Louisiana native said. "I could have come away with my confidence damaged but I felt great."
He birdied No. 8 and made a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 10 for a two-shot lead over Durant.
Sutton bogeyed the par-5 15th hole, leaving him with a one-shot advantage. Durant missed an 8-foot birdie putt on the hole.
Durant bogeyed No. 16, and Sutton pounced on the chance with a birdie on No. 17.
Sutton got his first PGA Tour victory of the year and finally broke through in the Houston event, after finishing second in 1994 and 1999. He's also had fourth- and seventh-place finishes over the TPC of The Woodland's 7,018-yard course.
Sutton attacked the wind immediately with birdies on his first two holes to reach 9 under and take the lead from Durant, who had bogeys on No. 2 and No. 3. Sutton never lost the lead after that.
Janzen had two bogeys and a double bogey on the front nine and made the turn four shots behind Sutton. He had four birdies over the final nine holes, but bogeyed the final hole for the tie with Durant.
Janzen, winless since the 1998 U.S. Open, ran into trouble quickly with bogeys at Nos. 4 and 8 and he double bogeyed No. 9 after missing a short putt.
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