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| Sabbatini wins the Honda Classic |
The Honda Classic went to a man sporting a black straw hat from the rest of the world - and before you ask, it was not the Great White Shark Greg Norman - but revitilised South African Rory Sabbatini.
Sabbatini, who has wrongly been treated as the bad guy on the PGA Tour after spats with Tiger Woods and Ben Crane on and off the course in recent years, edged out Korean major winner Y.E. Yang by a shot to claim his first title on American soil in two years at the treacherous PGA National course.
But the 34-year-old let his golf clubs do the talking this week, displaying shark-like tactics that Norman would have been proud of, to win his sixth tour title in 11 years.
After a slow start to the event with a one-over par 71, Sabbatini bit back with a course record-equalling 64 on Friday and Saturday-66 to lead the tournament by five shots heading into the final round.
The cowboy-like Sabbatini maintained the lead with a birdie at the 3rd and looked to be riding away from the field, but it was Yang, the 2009 Honda Classic and US PGA winner, who had other ideas and closed the gap to one after firing a superb tee shot across the water to two feet at the par-3 15th.
But Sabbatini bravely restored his two-shot cushion with a clutch 16-foot birdie putt on the 16th and parred the final two holes to hold onto a slender winning margin.
And despite what some may think of the brash South African, no one can grudge the Fort Worth, Texas resident of this win.
For one, he watched last September as his wife, Amy, had to be put in the Intensive Care Unit after complications during the birth of their third child, Bodhi. Sabbatini also had his own medical issues late last year, being diagnosed with skin cancer on his face that required minor surgery - the reason behind this season's switch to a larger hat.
These experiences also explain his gradual personality shift.
"It's been a tough road," he said. "So it definitely is kind of a turning of a new leaf, so it really does feel good. It does feel like a fresh start in a sense.
"I'm a passionate golfer, I really am. I love the game of golf and I've had my moments. I'm not proud of everything I've done out here, but I'm trying to learn. I'm trying to be a role model for my children and I know as my wife has said to me, I wouldn't want my son doing some of the things that I've done in the past.
"So I definitely have to take into account that my son is old enough now that he understands everything that I do, and really try and be a role model for him."
The victory not only sends Sabbatini into third place on the FedExCup standings but qualifies him into the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral this week.
Sabbatini, who has wrongly been treated as the bad guy on the PGA Tour after spats with Tiger Woods and Ben Crane on and off the course in recent years, edged out Korean major winner Y.E. Yang by a shot to claim his first title on American soil in two years at the treacherous PGA National course.
But the 34-year-old let his golf clubs do the talking this week, displaying shark-like tactics that Norman would have been proud of, to win his sixth tour title in 11 years.
After a slow start to the event with a one-over par 71, Sabbatini bit back with a course record-equalling 64 on Friday and Saturday-66 to lead the tournament by five shots heading into the final round.
The cowboy-like Sabbatini maintained the lead with a birdie at the 3rd and looked to be riding away from the field, but it was Yang, the 2009 Honda Classic and US PGA winner, who had other ideas and closed the gap to one after firing a superb tee shot across the water to two feet at the par-3 15th.
But Sabbatini bravely restored his two-shot cushion with a clutch 16-foot birdie putt on the 16th and parred the final two holes to hold onto a slender winning margin.
And despite what some may think of the brash South African, no one can grudge the Fort Worth, Texas resident of this win.
For one, he watched last September as his wife, Amy, had to be put in the Intensive Care Unit after complications during the birth of their third child, Bodhi. Sabbatini also had his own medical issues late last year, being diagnosed with skin cancer on his face that required minor surgery - the reason behind this season's switch to a larger hat.
These experiences also explain his gradual personality shift.
"It's been a tough road," he said. "So it definitely is kind of a turning of a new leaf, so it really does feel good. It does feel like a fresh start in a sense.
"I'm a passionate golfer, I really am. I love the game of golf and I've had my moments. I'm not proud of everything I've done out here, but I'm trying to learn. I'm trying to be a role model for my children and I know as my wife has said to me, I wouldn't want my son doing some of the things that I've done in the past.
"So I definitely have to take into account that my son is old enough now that he understands everything that I do, and really try and be a role model for him."
The victory not only sends Sabbatini into third place on the FedExCup standings but qualifies him into the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship at Doral this week.
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