One putt for $1 million.
Nick Price lived out every golfer's dream Sunday, coolly sinking a 12-foot putt to win golf's richest prize, the Million Dollar Challenge."I knew exactly what was on the line," he said.
It was a difficult final round for Price, who first had to overtake struggling leader Phil Mickelson and then needed to hold off Davis Love III and Ernie Els, who both birdied No. 18 but finished one stroke behind.
Mickelson, who led through the first three rounds, lost a share of the lead with a bogey on No. 16. He then lost his last real shot to regain it when his birdie putt just missed on No. 17, leaving him briefly tied with Love and Els.
Mickelson's last hope vanished when his long birdie try on 18 rolled left. His share of second disappeared when he missed the putt for par and finished with a 73.
That left Price in position to win. But the Zimbabwean's second shot on No. 18 sailed over the green and his third shot rolled 12 feet past the hole.
After Els sank a 33-foot putt for a birdie, Price needed to save par for the victory. He did what he had to do.
"It was a big putt, a huge putt for me to make, especially after Ernie made his," Price said.
Price closed with a 4-under-par 68 for a total of 13-under 275. Els and Love were both at 67-276.
Love had rallied from five back to get a share of the lead with Price and Mickelson, but then fell a stroke behind, tied with Els at 11 under. Els also began the day five behind the leader but charged back to fire a 67.
Price challenged Mickelson early, sinking birdie putts on the first two holes and narrowly missing an eagle on the second.
Mickelson countered with a crushing drive on the 550-yard, par-5 second, a 3-iron to the green that rolled just left of the pin and a putt for an eagle.
But Price kept up the pressure with a 60-foot birdie on No. 6 that put him one behind Mickelson.
"My putting was rock solid today," Price said. "This is as good as I can do it."
Bernhard Langer, who began the day two shots off the pace, finished with at 72 for fifth place at 278.
Justin Leonard was sixth after a 68. He was followed by Colin Montgomerie and Tom Lehman in seventh place, Jesper Parnevik in ninth, Mark O'Meara and Nick Faldo in 10th and Ian Woosnam in 12th place.JCPenney Classic
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. - Considering Clarence Rose and Amy Fruhwirth had not met before walking to the first tee this week for the JCPenney Classic, they might have used their spare time late Sunday afternoon getting to know each other.
But they didn't. They were too busy putting together a final-round 5-under-par 66 in the modified alternate-shot format to win the tournament.
Rose and Fruhwirth finished with a 20-under-par total of 264 in the tournament that pairs PGA Tour and LPGA players. One stroke back were the teams of Dan Forsman and Catriona Matthew, and Stewart Cink and Emilee Klein.
Forsman and Matthew, who finished with a 70, caused the most anxiety for the eventual winners. Trailing by one shot, Forsman drilled a 3-iron within 4 feet of the pin on the 222-yard, par-3 17th, but saw Matthew miss the birdie putt.
A few minutes later, Forsman's chip from off the 18th green to force a tie rolled tantalizing close but refused to fall.
"That watching is tough," Rose said. "I've been there on the outside looking in, hoping somebody would make a mistake and nobody did. But at least you know the worst you can do is finish second in that case. Dan hit a great chip shot on 18, but it just missed."
The winners collected $375,000. Not bad for two players who a week ago had never met.
"I didn't know what she looked like and she didn't know what I looked like," Rose said.
But Bob Low, who has caddied on both the PGA Tour and LPGA, recommended the pairing when he heard Rose was looking for a partner.
"Yeah, he told me I should play with Amy Fruhwirth. And I said, `Who's Amy Fruhwirth?' " Rose said. "And she probably went, `Who's Clarence Rose?' But he thought we might mix up pretty well, and I didn't know anybody so I was willing to take advice."
Floyds Win Father-Son Challenge
VERO BEACH, Fla. - Raymond Floyd and his son, Ray Jr., are still the only winners of the Office Depot Father-Son Challenge, winning the third edition of the tournament Sunday.
The Floyds, who won $150,000 with their third straight victory, birdied 14 of 18 holes for a final round 14-under-par 58 and a two-day total of 120 on the 6,709-yard course at the Windsor Golf Club.
This gave them a one-stroke edge over the first-round leaders, Dave and Ron Stockton, who shot 60-61-121. The Stocktons were second last year, tied for third in the 1995 inaugural.
Jack and Gary Nicklaus made five birdies and an eagle on the first six holes, and birdied the last four to finish third with 59-123.
Both the final round score and 36-hole total were a stroke off tournament records the Floyds set in their first Father-Son victory in 1995 when they closed with 57-119 on 13 birdies and an eagle at the 18th hole.
"The scrambles format is so aggressive," the elder Floyd said. "You are trying to hit the very best shot you can every time and if your partner who has hit first is in good shape, you might even try shots that you would never consider in an individual stroke play tournament."