USPGA Tour News: Joey Sindelar captured his first PGA Tour title for 14 years when he parred the second play-off hole to win the $5.6 million Wachovia Championship at Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday.
Sindelar, who closed with a three-under-par 69 to finish on 11-under 277 at the Quail Hollow club, earned $1,008,000, more money than he has won in any of his 20 seasons on tour.
Arron Oberholser, playing two groups behind in the final pairing of the day, carded an even-par 72 to join Sindelar in the play-off.
World number one Tiger Woods made a run at the title but his four-under 68 for 278 earned him a tie for third place with Paraguay's Carlos Franco.
The US Masters champion Phil Mickelson finished joint fifth on 279 with Steve Flesch, Notah Begay III and Jeff Maggert. Sweden's Mathias Gronberg was ninth on 280.
Sindelar, whose previous best finish this year was a tie for 30th at the Buick Invitational, said he had kept his nose to the grindstone for the last 14 years.
"Work, work, work," the 46-year-old said. "You keep hitting your head against the wall hoping it will break one day instead of your head. I never, ever gave up hope. Sometimes it hurt bad. It will take a while to understand this is real."
Oberholser, who began the day with a one-shot lead over Begay and Australia's Geoff Ogilvy, eagled the par-five 15th hole to go two strokes clear.
But the 29-year-old American, playing in only his 38th Tour event, hit his drive into the trees on the 16th and made a bogey.
Nursing a one-shot lead at the par-three 17th, Oberholser knocked his tee shot within inches of the water to the left of the green and made another bogey, dropping into a tie with Sindelar, who had birdied the 16th.
Sindelar and Oberholser parred the 18th in regulation play and again on the first sudden-death hole. It was the second time this season that Oberholser has failed to win after holding or sharing the 54-hole lead.
