Boo Weekley captures first PGA Tour win at Verizon Heritage

From WorldGolf.com News Services

At the Honda Classic, Boo Weekley missed a three-foot putt that would have given him the victory. At the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links at the Sea Pines Resort in Hilton Head, S.C., Weekly made sure his putter would be an issue.

By chipping in on his final two holes, Weekley survived a bogey on No. 16 and took home the Verizon Heritage, his first PGA Tour victory.

"Right now, it feels good," Weekly told reporters afterward. "It ain't all sunk in yet."

It was just a month ago at the Honda Classic where Weekley suffered what could have been a damaging shot to his psyche, as he missed a three-foot put on the 72nd hole that would have given him his first career victory. Instead, Weekley fell to a four-man playoff, which was eventually won by Mark Wilson.

Weekly had missed two of three cuts priors to the Verizon Heritage, and finished tied for 14th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The victory vaults Weekley to No. 9 on the PGA Tour money list with a cool $1.67 million, and No. 8 on the 2007 FedExCup points list. Weekley also has now qualified for the Masters, as the tournament has restated a rule inviting Tour winners to play in the year's first major in Augusta. For his part, Weekley told PGATour.com he wasn't sure what his win meant.

"I don't keep up with golf. I call and they say, 'All right, you're in this tournament,' and I just go and play. I call my agent and say I need a ride over here, I need a ride over there," said Weekley. That's how I go about it. This is where I work at, you know?"

Ernie Els gave himself a minuscule shot at forcing a playoff on the final hole, as he needed an eagle on the par 4 to tie, but his second shot ended up a couple feet short. Els finished with a birdie, giving him sole possession of second place, one shot ahead of Stephen Leaney.

Masters champion Zach Johnson didn't show any post-victory let down, as he carded a final-round 71 to finish tied for fifth.

April 17, 2007