Twin Playoff Victories Punctuate Pro Tour Drama

Creamer Rallies in Singapore for First Win Since 2010 U.S. Open; Georgia’s Henley Gains Masters Invite With Honda Classic Win

Chris Duthie

Heart-clutching, sudden-death drama headlined the weekend as Paula Creamer and Russell Henley emerged unlikely winners on the world’s biggest professional golf stages.

Creamer sank a 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole against Azahara Muñoz to claim the HSBC Women’s Championship in Singapore. It was Creamer’s first LPGA Tour title since the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open, and she did it against 19 of the world’s top-20 players.

“It’s one of those putts where if you just get it in the right spot, it’s going to fall down,” said Creamer of her uphill, two-tier miracle that left the fan favorite on her knees – giggling, slapping the grass and gasping with emotion. “But I could stand there all day long and putt that and I don’t think I’d get it within six, seven feet.”

Cramer, who has finished third twice this season before breaking through in Singapore, overcame a four-shot deficit and five-time Australian Open titlist Karrie Webb, who unraveled in the final round and finished one shot back.

Meanwhile at the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic – played on a beastly PGA National course in Florida – Henley won his second career Tour victory with a gutsy birdie on the first extra playoff hole to top Rory McIlroy, Ryan Palmer and Russell Knox. Henley took advantage of windy conditions and back-nine miscues by McIlroy – and much of the field – to gain a coveted invitation to next month’s Masters in Augusta.

It will mark the second consecutive Masters appearance for Hensley, who won last year’s Sony Open. He grew up in Macon, two hours from Augusta, and was Golfweek’s 2010 College Player of the Year at the University of Georgia, where he got to play at the home of the Masters once every year.

“This doesn’t feel real,” he said after his Honda victory. “It wasn’t what I expected at the start of the week.”

NEXT UP

PGA Tour: March 6-9; Puerto Rico Open; Rio Grande, PR
PGA Tour: March 6-9; World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship; Miami, FL
Champions Tour: March 14-16; Toshiba Classic; Newport Beach CC; Newport Beach, CA
LPGA Tour: March 20-23; LPGA Founders Cup; Phoenix, AZ

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Chris Duthie is a contributor to Colorado AvidGolfer, the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.