When healthy, Steve Elkington is tough to beat.
Plagued by viral meningitis and sinus surgery earlier this year, Elkington was forced to miss nearly two months on the PGA Tour.With his ailments behind him, Elkington came from four shots off the lead in regulation Sunday, then parred the first hole of a playoff with Fred Funk to win the Buick Challenge.
"I've had a frustrating year with my health, but when I'm not sick I play pretty good," said Elkington, who finished third in PGA championship in August. "I've played pretty good of late and my confidence has been building for four months."
He closed with a 5-under-par 65 to match Funk at 21-under 267 on the 7,057-yard Mountain View course at the Callaway Gardens resort. Funk finished with a 69.
Elkington, also the 1994 winner, parred the 432-yard, par-4 18th hole in the playoff. Funk's tee shot wound up in a fairway bunker, and his second shot hit the lip and bounded sideways about 20 yards.
The Australian, who makes his home in Houston, became only the third two-time winner in the tournament's history (Hubert Green, 1975 and 1984; and Jerry Pate in 1977-78 when it was known as the Southern Open).
Despite the four-shot deficit entering the final round, Elkington felt he had a chance after shooting a 65, including a 30 on the back nine, in the third round Saturday.
The $270,000 first prize gave Elkington $695,000 for the year in 15 events and raised his career total to more than $7 million.
Bill Glasson shot a 69 to finish third at 268, one shot behind the leaders. J.L. Lewis had a 68 and was another shot back at 269. Skip Kendall, who had the day's best round with a 63, was next at 271.
VANTAGE SENIORS: Gil Morgan rallied from four shots back with a final-round 5-under-par 65 for a 12-under 198 total to win the Vantage Seniors Championship at Clemmons, N.C. Morgan beat Hale Irwin by one shot. Jerry McGee tied for third with Tom Wargo , two shots back.
BELGIAN BELGACOM OPEN: Lee Westwood beat Fredrik Jacobson on the first playoff hole to win the Belgian Belgacom Open in Knokke, Belguim, and keep alive his chances of being the European PGA Tour's top money winner.
Westwood, who shot a 5-under-par 66, took the lead for the first time in the tournament on the 12th hole before Jacobson came back on the 17th with a birdie to force a playoff. The two tied at 16-under 268 for 72 holes. It was Westwood's fourth victory of the year.
SENIOR CLUB PRO: Wes Smith sank an 18-foot putt on the 18th hole for a 4-under-par 68 and a 4-under 284 total to win the PGA Senior Club Professional Championship at West Palm Beach, Fla., by one stroke. Tommy Price was second, followed by Dick McClean and Michael Zinni at 286.