Singapore Open playoff postponed
Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines and Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano will complete a playoff to decide the winner of the Singapore Open on Monday after rain forced play to be abandoned Sunday.
After finishing level at 14-under 199 after the third and final round, Pagunsan and Fernandez-Castano teed off on the playoff hole when play was suspended for 90 minutes because of rain and the threat of lighting. The storm let up briefly, allowing the players to hit one more shot before more rain halted play for good.
Officials said the playoff will resume early Monday morning.
''It's now a shoot-out between the two of us,'' Fernandez-Castano said. ''We needed to try and get it finished today, but there's nothing you can do about the weather.''
Fernandez-Castano, who won the last of his four European Tour titles in 2008, started the day with a three-shot lead but faltered down the stretch. He shot three bogies on the back nine where he wilted in Singapore's hot tropical conditions.
''It was one of the toughest days I have ever had,'' he said. ''The heat was brutal and I was feeling the pressure because it has been a long time without a victory and I want this one desperately.''
It looked like Pagunsan would complete a come-from-behind victory when Fernandez-Castano sent his drive on 18th into water. But the 31-year-old Spaniard sank a 12-foot par putt to force a playoff.
''When I saw that Gonzalo's drive was in the water, in my mind, I thought I was going to win, no playoff,'' Pagunsan said. ''But he made the putt. It will be interesting tomorrow morning.''
Pagunsan began the day five strokes behind Fernandez-Castano. The 33-year-old from Manila was consistent throughout the tournament, shooting 66-66-67 and finished with a birdie on the 18th.
Long rain delays on Friday and Saturday forced organizers to shorten the tournament from four rounds to three.
South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen (65) and Anthony Kim (64) of the United States finished in a tie for third at 13 under, one shot off the lead. Three players - Edoardo Molinari (71), Danny Lee (68) and Joost Luiten (67) - tied for fifth at 12 under.
Graeme McDowell (66) finished 8 under, Ernie Els (69) was 6 under and Phil Mickelson (70) 5 under.