Merrill Lynch Shootout: Final-Round Notebook  PGA TOUR Staff NAPLES, Fla. -- Woody Austin and Mark Calcavecchia posted a 9-under 63 on Sunday -- highlighted by Austin's 35-foot birdie putt on the last hole -- to finish the 2007 Merrill Lynch Shootout at 29-under 187. They edged tournament host Greg Norman and Bubba Watson by a single shot.  Host Greg Norman came up just short in his quest for a second victory. (Martin/Getty Images)
• Woody Austin becomes just the seventh player to win the Merrill Lynch Shootout in his first attempt, joining Mark O'Meara (1989), Curtis Strange (1989), Fred Couples (1990), Scott McCarron (1997), Hank Kuehne (2003) and Rod Pampling (2006). • Austin wasn't the only first-timer who played well this week. Of the five professionals who made their first Merrill Lynch Shootout showing, three finished inside the top three, including Austin (won), Bubba Watson (second) and Camilo Villegas (tied for third). The others were Anthony Kim (eighth) and Zach Johnson (tied for 10th). • The win was the second of Mark Calcavecchia's career, coming in his 14th start at the tournament. The 13-time PGA TOUR winner teamed with Steve Elkington to win the event in 1995. • The round of the week was turned in on Sunday by Chris DiMarco and Camilo Villegas with a 13-under 59, helping them move from a tie for sixth to a tie for third. The former golf standouts at the University of Florida donned Tim Tebow jerseys on the final hole to show their support for the recently crowned Heisman Trophy winner. • Greg Norman came up just short in his bid to step into the winner's circle for the first time since the 2001 Skins Game. He collected $1 million in that event when he shut out Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomerie and Jesper Parnevik. That was also the same year Norman was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. • The second-place finish for Greg Norman/Bubba Watson on Sunday marked Norman's best finish at the Merrill Lynch Shootout since he teamed with Steve Elkington in 1998 for his only victory at the tournament. It marked his lowest 54-hole score, however, topping the 188 he and Raymond Floyd posted in 1995. • Jerry Kelly and Rod Pampling made a valiant run on Sunday in their attempt to become just the third team in tournament history to repeat as champions. The defending champions posted a 10-under 62 on Sunday to finish in a tie for third place, five strokes behind the winners. The only teams to pull off the feat were Hank Kuehne and Jeff Sluman (2003-04) and Brad Faxon and Scott McCarron (2000-01). • Steve Elkington made his 16th start this week at the Merrill Lynch Shootout, tying Peter Jacobsen for second all-time. Tournament host Greg Norman leads with 19 appearances. |
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network