Gay slips past Howell in a playoff

Associated Press
Posted: January 21, 2013

LA QUINTA, Calif. - Brian Gay won the Humana Challenge on Sunday, beating Charles Howell III with a 51/2-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff after front-running Scott Stallings gave away a large lead.

The 41-year-old Gay began the round six strokes behind Stallings, but closed with a 9-under 63 to match Howell and rookie David Lingmerth at 25-under 263.

Howell shot a 64, and Lingmerth had a 62. Stallings, five strokes ahead entering the round, bogeyed the final hole for a 70 to miss the playoff by a stroke.

Gay and Howell opened the playoff with birdies on the par-5 18th, and Lingmerth dropped out with a bogey after hitting his approach into the water.

Gay won on the par-4 10th, hitting a perfect drive and putting his 9-iron second shot in good position below the hole. Howell drove into the right rough, hit his second into the back bunker, blasted out to 15 feet and two-putted for bogey.

European Tour

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Jamie Donaldson won the Abu Dhabi Championship by one shot, with Justin Rose narrowly missing a birdie putt on the 18th that would have forced a playoff.

Rose's 8-foot putt rimmed out of the hole, giving Donaldson the win. He shot 68 to finish at 14-under 274.

Rose (71) threw his club up in the air in frustration while Donaldson flashed a relieved smile. Rose tied for second with Thorbjorn Olesen (69), who also failed to force a playoff on the 18th when his 15-foot birdie putt rolled past the hole. Olesen, playing with Rose, had putted first.

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