O'Hair Wins PODS Championship

It might not be on a midnight train, but next month Sean O’Hair will have the pleasure of leaving for Georgia.

He took advantage of a stunning collapse by Stewart Cink and won the PODS Championship at Palm Harbor, Fla.

O’Hair, who closed with a 2-under 69 on Sunday for a 4-under 280 total, won a trip to the Masters.

It was his first victory since the John Deere Classic as a 22-year-old rookie in 2005, which got him into the British Open at St. Andrews. This victory sends him to Augusta National next month, and he will move into the top 40 in the world to qualify for the World Golf Championship at Doral in two weeks.

“This is not going to hurt my confidence,” said O’Hair, a native of Lubbock, Texas. “I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.”

Cink suffered a loss perhaps even more devastating than the Accenture Match Play Championship blowout against Tiger Woods. Cink had a 4-shot lead after two holes Sunday, still had control on the back nine and then dropped 4 shots in a four-hole stretch along the back nine of the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook.

PODS Championship - Day 3 Wrap

Stewart Cink played the last of his 28 holes Saturday in near darkness, eager to finish a day of the toughest conditions the PGA Tour has seen this year. Even after his lone bogey in the third round for a 2-under 69, he couldn't wait to get started today in Palm Harbor, Fla.

Playing in 30 mph wind at the PODS Championship for the better part of 12 hours, Cink's fortunes turned quickly when he ran off three straight birdies and went from four shots down to a two-shot lead that likely puts him in the final group for the third time this year.

He was at 5-under 208, two shots ahead of former U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy. Only nine players remained under par.

Brandt Snedeker, who had a four-shot lead until his momentum changed on a three-putt from 12 feet, was at 3 under with three to play. Billy Mayfair also was at 3 under playing the 16th hole when darkness suspended play.

Cink had to play 28 holes, none of them easy after play was called for storms on Friday.

"I've got to keep pushing," said Cink, who hasn't won since Firestone in 2004. "My goal is to give no one a chance tomorrow."

The wind was raging at dawn and never let until the final minutes of daylight, so strong that players who were hitting a 9-iron into the 18th green in the opening round were pulling a 3-iron or more on Saturday...

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Golf this week

PGA TOUR

PODS Championship
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, Tampa Bay, Florida
Title holder: Mark Calcavecchia

EUROPEAN TOUR

Malaysian Open
Kota Permai Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Title holder: Peter Hedblom