PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Rory Sabbatini's shot barely beat the buzzer.
Holding a two-stroke lead at the Honda Classic, the South African stepped to the tee at the treacherous par-three 17th hole and lofted his drive to the middle of the green, avoiding the lake that had been collecting balls all week.
Moments later a horn sounded, signaling a suspension of play because of lightning. As rain began falling harder, Sabbatini walked briskly to his ball and happily marked it before finding refuge in a van.
"I was pretty content to have it on the green at that time," he said.
The tee shot left Sabbatini significantly closer to victory, and after a 28-minute delay he completed his march to the title, shooting an even-par 70 Sunday for a one-stroke win.
Y.E. Yang made it close, cutting a five-shot deficit to one in the span of seven holes. But Sabbatini birdied No. 16, then came through with a clutch par on 17.
While spectators wondered if Sabbatini would fold, Yang said he was actually the shakier player down the stretch.
"Usually if you're in front, if you're running away from somebody, you tend to be a bit nervous," Yang said through an interpreter. "But in Rory's case, apart from No. 14, he seemed really calm. I commend him for being I guess so emotionally stable. I wasn't."
Sabbatini sealed the title with a 2-foot par putt on No. 18 for a 72-hole total of 9-under 271. The resident of Fort Worth, Texas, earned his sixth PGA Tour victory and his first since the 2009 Byron Nelson Championship.
Moments later a horn sounded, signaling a suspension of play because of lightning. As rain began falling harder, Sabbatini walked briskly to his ball and happily marked it before finding refuge in a van.
"I was pretty content to have it on the green at that time," he said.
The tee shot left Sabbatini significantly closer to victory, and after a 28-minute delay he completed his march to the title, shooting an even-par 70 Sunday for a one-stroke win.
Y.E. Yang made it close, cutting a five-shot deficit to one in the span of seven holes. But Sabbatini birdied No. 16, then came through with a clutch par on 17.
While spectators wondered if Sabbatini would fold, Yang said he was actually the shakier player down the stretch.
"Usually if you're in front, if you're running away from somebody, you tend to be a bit nervous," Yang said through an interpreter. "But in Rory's case, apart from No. 14, he seemed really calm. I commend him for being I guess so emotionally stable. I wasn't."
Sabbatini sealed the title with a 2-foot par putt on No. 18 for a 72-hole total of 9-under 271. The resident of Fort Worth, Texas, earned his sixth PGA Tour victory and his first since the 2009 Byron Nelson Championship.