Sports

Unfortunate divot dooms Stenson’s run at PGA Championship

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Sweden came close to getting its first men’s major championship winner yesterday in the PGA Championship at Oak Hill, but Henrik Stenson caught a terrible break on the back nine to derail his run at eventual winner Jason Dufner.

Stenson, who birdied the 13th hole to get to 9-under par, two shots behind Dufner, watched in horror as his tee shot on the 14th hole came to rest in a divot. By rule, players are not allowed to alter the lie of their ball, and Stenson hit his ensuing approach shot into a bunker, leading to a bogey.

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP: OAK HILL HOLE-BY-HOLE

Stenson, who finished second in the British Open and last week at Firestone, finished at 7-under par, three shots behind Dufner.

“It’s all written in the stars if it would have been a different scenario,’’ Stenson said. “I’m happy and proud of my performance. I was still giving it a good fight and I had an unbelievable round and some great tournaments in the last month.

“I ended up plugging it in a bunker after duffing it in there from the Sunday divot [on 14]. It’s one of those things I can’t afford that at that time — especially if you’re a little behind and you need to make up some ground. … That could be the make-it-or-break-it.’’

* Masters champion Adam Scott, who has been in contention almost every event he plays in, had a nondescript day, shooting an even-par 70.

“It was a mixed bag and just a sloppy finish [two bogeys in the last three holes], unfortunately,’’ he said. “It would have been nice to get another win in a major seeing I’ve kind of put myself in position, but I didn’t. So I have got to push on and try and win a couple other tournaments this year to feel like I really get something out of my good play.’’

* Several top players were looking to end long career droughts with no major championships, but failed.

Lee Westwood, the 54-hole leader at the British Open who began the day at 3-under, shot himself out of contention with a 77, and is 0-for-63 in his career in majors — the most starts in majors without a win.

Not far behind is Miguel Angel Jimenez, now 0-for-62. Sergio Garcia is 0-for-61.

Steve Stricker, who began yesterday four shots off the lead but shot 73, is 0-for-60. He was trying to become the second-oldest major champion ever at 46 years, 5 months and 10 days old.

“I thought 10”‘-under was going to be the number, and I just didn’t have any firepower,’’ Stricker said.

* Tim Clark made the only hole-in-one of the tournament yesterday when he holed a 3-hybrid on the 220-yard 11th hole. It was the third competitive ace of Clark’s career — and it came after a double bogey on the 10th hole.

* Gary Woodland might have finished well out of contention, but the big hitter from Kansas became the first golfer in competition at Oak Hill Country Club to reach the par-5 13th hole in two shots. Stenson also did it later in the round.

Woodland, the last player to qualify for the PGA Championship by winning the Reno-Tahoe Open the previous week, shot 70 after an 80 on Saturday left him with the first tee time of the day.