SINGAPORE OPEN:Angel Cabrera added another victory to his remarkable season at a tense Singapore Open early yesterday after he birdied the final hole to hold off a charging Vijay Singh by one stroke.
This year's US Open champion set the foundation for victory with a stunning course record 63 in Friday's second round, and the experience of capturing one of golf's coveted majors appeared to help the Argentinian defend his lead over the final two days.
Starting his final round with a four-shot advantage, the world number 17 curbed his usual aggressive approach and adopted a more conservative game-plan to secure a victory that was as pleasing to the 38-year-old as any in his career.
"I am very, very happy to win this event," Cabrera said after a final-round, one-over 72 at the €2.75 million tournament, the Asian Tour's richest.
"It was a world-class event with some of the best players in the world like Vijay (Singh), Ernie (Els), Adam Scott and Phil Mickelson here."
Starting his round six shots behind, Singh was playing in the group ahead of Cabrera and the Fijian pulled within one shot of the lead by the 10th hole, but was unable to draw level until he birdied the par-five last to move to seven-under.
Cabrera drilled his drive straight down the middle of the fairway and landed his six-iron approach around 25 feet from the pin. He calmly rolled the eagle putt to within a foot before tapping in for victory.
"Obviously, there was a lot of pressure on the back nine but this is how we make a living," he added. "I am a world-class player too and I knew I needed a birdie to win and that's exactly what I went on to do.
"I wasn't hitting the ball well today at the beginning of my round but it started to come together down the stretch. I was feeling good on the last few holes, so I decided to go for it."
Reflecting on a breakthrough season with his major victory in June, Cabrera is refusing to rest on his laurels and plans another assault on golf's biggest tournaments next season.
"I want to keep winning and try to keep up with the world's best, taking my game to another level," he said. "Winning the US Open is a big thing, after all only one player in the world gets to do it every year.
"I was having a good week and took advantage and guess I got lucky. After that, things get a lot easier and I gained a lot of confidence from that and kept winning."
LPGA TOUR: Momoka Ueda is the first non-LPGA professional to post an albatross in an LPGA event, which all but clinched her €145,000 victory at the Mizuno Classic in Japan.
Ueda, a two-year member of the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) and the top player of 2007, posted a two-stroke victory with three rounds of 70 67 66 for a 13-under-par total of 203 over LPGA members Maria Hjorth (70-68-67) and Reilley Rankin (66-72-67), who tied for second at 11-under-par 205.
Ueda's albatross on the seventh hole of the final round was just the 28th in LPGA Tour history and eighth recorded on the JLPGA.
"I could not see where the ball went, though I heard the gallery cheer. But, even after I made double eagle, Maria made her birdie. She did not seem to hit bogey," said the 21-year-old Ueda, who has posted 20 top-10 finishes in 25 starts on the JLPGA tour this season.
"I thought Maria would play good, and not miss a shot, so I concentrated playing better. I'm really, really glad I won. I learned sometimes patient brings fortune."
With her win, Ueda is now eligible for membership on the LPGA Tour with exempt status for the 2008 season.
