February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Right below O’Meara’s name was the man with whom he played all 72 holes, Dubliner Paul McGinley. O’Meara hit every green in regulation on the final 18 to win his first tournament since the 1998 British Open.
O’Meara finished 17 under par at 271 (70-64-68-69) to McGinley’s 272 (68-65-69-70). Three shots behind McGinley came Ernie Els and David Howell. Woods tied for fifth place at 276 (70-69-69-68).
O’Meara took the lead on Sunday when he birdied the fourth hole. He bogeyed No. 6 to square the match as McGinley played to par. O’Meara then took a two-stroke lead with a birdie on 11, after McGinley had bogeyed 9. McGinley birdied 13 but gave back another stroke with a bogey at 16. That became crucial as O’Meara finished with a bogey at 18, but had enough cushion with a one-stroke advantage.
“You always wonder sometimes when you’re battling, you haven’t won and your confidence is low, if you just keep practicing and keep plugging away, maybe you’ll have that chance again, and this week fortunately I had the chance,” O’Meara said.
“I was delighted to be able to play alongside Paul McGinley the last four days. He’s a friend and a great competitor. It helps when you’re playing with a guy who is a good, fair competitor and a good sport, who knows what the game is all about. Paul certainly knows that.”
Said McGinley: “Obviously there’s disappointment not to have won. We’re in the game to win and the difference between winning and coming in second is
huge. Having said that, I didn’t lose the tournament — Mark won it. He played awesome. On the first two days he putted the lights out and I thought he hit the ball really well over the weekend.”
McGinley earned