Chalk one up for the old guys.
Nick Price, 41, edged 22-year-old Tiger Woods in a dramatic five-hole playoff to win the big check at the Million Dollar Challenge and his third title at Sun City, South Africa.It was a victory of experience over pure talent, of one of golf's most amiable players over its most brilliant.
"Obviously to have beaten someone like Tiger, it makes it a little special. He's a phenomenon," said Price, who has been a professional for as long as Woods has been alive. "I've got a great future behind me. He's going to win plenty.
"If he continues to refine his game as he's doing, he's going to be formidable," Price said of Woods. "I'm glad I'll be hitting the senior tour then."
Price's win was in keeping with the season of Mark O'Meara, another 41-year-old, who won two majors and was named PGA golfer of the year. O'Meara was part of the elite field of 12 of golf's best players but finished fifth.
Woods and Price both started the final round at the 7,597-yard Gary Player Country Club course four strokes behind another young sensation, Lee Westwood. But Westwood quickly faded, losing two shots on the first four holes.
Meanwhile, Woods and Price -- playing as a twosome -- began trading birdies. By the 16th round, it was clear one of them would come out on top. By then, Price had scored six consecutive birdies on holes 9 through 14.
Then, Woods staged a late-round charge, starting with a birdie on the 17th.
It came down to the 462-yard 18th hole. Price was leading the field at 15-under, a stroke ahead on Woods.
He two-putted the hole for par, but Woods, his ball about 20 feet away on the fringe, used a sand wedge to sink an uphill 18-footer. He pumped his trademark uppercut into the air and went into the sudden-death playoff.
JCPENNEY CLASSIC: Meg Mallon and Steve Pate shot a 9-under 62 on Sunday in the modified, alternate-shot format to win the JCPenney Classic in Palm Harbor, Fla., with a tournament-record 29-under 255 total.
Mallon and Pate, who each earned $218,750, broke the record of 257 set by Beth Daniel and Davis Love III in 1995. Rachel Hetherington and Rocco Mediate shot a 69 to finish second at 259.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN: At Adelaide, Australia, Australian left-hander Greg Chalmers shot a 2-under 70 on Sunday for a one-stroke victory over countrymen Peter Senior and Stuart Appleby in the Australian Open.
Chalmers, who earned $115,200, had an even-par 288 total on the Royal Adelaide course. Senior finished with a 70, and Appleby shot a 72.