World Golf News - 03 October 2011

In the United States, a long-awaited victory saw South Korean-born golfer Kevin Na win his first career victory on the Tour. Na, who has often been playfully mocked for his slow playing style, proved to golf fans and his competitors on Sunday that perseverance always yields results when he won the Las Vegas Open by a two-shot margin over compatriot Nick Watney.

After a nail-biting putt on the seventeenth, Na finally saw the tournament go his way as Watney was unable to close in on the two stroke lead to force a playoff. The champion's excitement was immense as he lifted the trophy in his first-ever top level victory on US soil. This is Na's first victory in 210 starts on the US PGA Tour, a cycle he was thrilled to break with his victory on Sunday. Now a member of the winners' club, Na may have further victories up his sleeve as his confidence increases in the coming years.

In Europe, another surprise victory at the Dunhill Links Championship propelled the Northern Irishman Michael Hoey into the mainstream of professional golf as he held Rory McIlroy at bay to clinch the title. In an impressive final round performance Hoey carded three birdies on the back nine to secure a two-shot victory over his compatriot McIlory, though the world number three did not make Hoey's victory an easy one by any means.

McIlory had started the final round five shots off the pace, but soon caught up to Hoey and lead the tournament from the third hole up to the fifteenth. With victory seemingly slipping away from him, Hoey managed to weather the storm and recovered his game during the four closing holes of the tournament to finish ahead of McIlroy. Greame McDowell came in third to complete a Northern Irish trio at the top of the leader board.

Golfweather Editorial