Ryuji Imada earns first PGA Tour win in AT&T Classic at TPC Sugarloaf

From WorldGolf.com News Services

The story of how Ryuji Imada recorded his first career PGA Tour victory Sunday is yet another example of how truth can be stranger than fiction.

In a playoff for the second consecutive year in the AT&T Classic, Imada this time came out on top after opponent Kenny Perry found water on the first playoff hole. It was a remarkable turn of events for Imada, who last year lost a playoff to Zach Johnson when he was the one whose approach shot hit the drink in the first playoff hole on No. 18 at TPC Sugarloaf.

"I never really believed in destiny, but I'm starting to believe it," Imada told reporters. "I don't know what to say. I just love this place."

Perry can be excused if he didn't come away sharing Imada's feelings. Going for the green on the par-5 18th hole, Perry's shot easily cleared the pond in front of the green, but carried to the back of the green where it glanced off a tree, darted back across the green and dropped into the water.

Perry said he was almost in shock.

"I had it hooking in there from right to left and it hit the [tree] — I never dreamed it," Perry told reporters. "I must have been pumped up cause it hit the tree trunk over there and shot it across the green into the water. So what are you going to do?"

Imada and Perry both finished the tournament at 15-under 273. That was one shot better than third-place finisher Camilo Villegas, who closed with a 6-under-par 66, missing an eagle putt on No. 18 that would've gotten him into the playoff.

Jonathan Byrd (13-under 275) finished fourth and Justin Bolli, James Driscoll and Parker McLachlin all tied for fifth at 12-under 276. McLachlin led by three shots after making eagle out of the bunker at No. 13, but faded badly down the stretch, making bogey on three of his final five holes, including No. 18.

That opened the door for Imada, who had three runner-up performances in his PGA Tour career. Following his second-place finish at the AT&T Classic a year ago, Imada was second to Tiger Woods at this year's Buick Invitational and tied for second at the PODS Championship in early March.

With the victory, Imada improved to third place in the season-long FedEx Cup standings. In addition to the $990,000 first-place check, he earned 4,500 points for a total of 10,431.

After Perry's shot, Imada said he wasn't exactly clear on the result. Some people were telling him that Perry's shot was in the water, while another told him Perry had hit it close.

Eventually, Imada decided to lay up and go for the clinching par. Although Perry did come close to holing out a wedge shot after taking his drop, Imada was able to hold on and locked up the victory by sinking a four-foot putt.

Perry, who was just the third player to shoot in the 60s in all four rounds of the tournament since it moved to TPC Sugarloaf in 1997, said he had to simply tip his hat to Imada.

"I made good shots - just didn't go all the way," Perry said. "I played well coming in. I made some good birdies coming in to get the lead, but somebody always plays better.

"It's tough to win out here."

For his part, Imada said he handled himself much better in a playoff situation this time around. He became the first Japanese-born winner on the PGA Tour since Shigeki Maruyama in 2003.

"I was more relaxed, definitely, and my caddie was also relaxed," said Imada, who closed with a 5-under 67. "We were joking around."

However, Imada said he was thrilled to earn a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, plus an invitational to the 2009 Masters.

"I'm just going to cherish this one and know I'm going to try to do my best in two weeks at Memorial," Imada said. "But nobody can take this one away from me."

May 19, 2008