Golf:Nick Watney staked a late claim for a place on the United States Ryder Cup team as he took advantage of a bad day for Sergio Garcia to carry off the title at The Barclays.
The 31-year-old has endured a poor year on tour but put that behind him to register a three-shot victory after a closing 69, with fellow American Brandt Snedeker in second place at Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale.
Garcia was seeking back-to-back triumphs after winning at the Wyndham Championship last Monday, but he went from the top of the leaderboard at the start of the day to a tie for third alongside Dustin Johnson after a four-over 75.
US captain Davis Love III is due to name his 12 on September 4th for the match against Europe at Medinah, starting on September 28th.
Watney entered the world’s top 10 for the first time last year but has since drifted to 35th, his position before this triumph. He is outside the qualifying places for the American team so will be relying on a wild card, but there could hardly be a better time to win and remind Love of his ability.
Snedeker and Johnson, who had final rounds of 70 and 68 respectively, could say the same. They too are outside the top eight in the points’ standings. Love has four captain’s picks.
England’s former world number one Lee Westwood finished in a share of fifth place with Canadian Graham DeLaet, South African Louis Oosthuizen and American Brian Harman. Westwood, who will be in Medinah, had a closing 70 while DeLaet had a best-of-the-day 65 to leap 38 places on the leader-board.
Luke Donald came in 10th after a one-under 70, and Padraig Harrington, who led after a first-round 64 before throwing in back-to-back 75s, completed his week’s work with a 68 for a share of 19th place.
Rory McIlroy had a closing 72 to tie for 24th, while it was a day to forget for Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as the multiple major winners crumbled to rounds of 76 and fell 28 places to tie for 38th. All three, though, will be among the star attractions at the end of next month when the Ryder Cup takes place.
