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Gainey storms from seven shots back to snatch superb victory

GOLF DIGEST: US TOUR: Tommy Gainey carded a stunning final round of 60 to claim a one-shot victory in the McGladrey Classic …

Tue Oct 23 2012 - 01:00

GOLF DIGEST: US TOUR:Tommy Gainey carded a stunning final round of 60 to claim a one-shot victory in the McGladrey Classic and inflict more misery on Davis Love and Jim Furyk.

Gainey was seemingly out of contention as he began his final round tied for 29th place on six under par and seven shots adrift of joint leaders Love and Furyk.

However, the 37-year-old American charged up the leaderboard with a flawless round that included eight birdies and an eagle to finish 16 under for the tournament.

That was enough to clinch his first PGA Tour title with David Toms (63) second on 15 under after picking up birdies on four of his final five holes, while Furyk (69) was two shots back after finishing with a bogey on the 18th. Love finished in a tie for fourth after hitting his drive into water on the 16th to run up a double-bogey six.

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“I’m very proud to be in this tournament and very proud to win,” said Gainey. “You’re playing with the best players in the world; 99 per cent of these guys have already won, and won Majors, won big tournaments. The only show I can say I’ve won is The Big Break.“Now I can sit here and say I’ve won the McGladrey Classic here at Sea Island, Georgia.”

Gainey’s 60 was a course record but he also had a chance to card only the sixth round of 59 in PGA Tour history when he was left with a 20-foot putt for birdie on the final hole. However, his putt finished just short as he settled for a 60, the sixth player to do so on the tour since 2007.

EUROPEAN TOUR:Next season's Volvo World Match Play Championship will break new ground for the European Tour by being staged in Bulgaria.

After being held at Wentworth from 1964 to 2007, the tournament switched to Finca Cortesin in southern Spain three years ago and, with an expanded field of 24 players, has been won by Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts the past two years.

The Gary Player-designed Thracian Cliffs beside the Black Sea will become the new venue on May 16th-19th. Nicolas Colsaerts, whose victory in May helped to secure him a Ryder Cup debut, said: “This just demonstrates the global appeal of golf. I’ve never been to Bulgaria.”