Golf Roundup: Herron captures Colonial playoff

FORT WORTH, Texas — Tim Herron wanted to treat the final day of the Colonial as if he were a club member playing a casual round.

The player affectionately known as "Lumpy" won on the PGA Tour for the first time in seven years. He beat Richard S. Johnson of Sweden with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff, the first time since 1994 that extra holes were needed at Hogan's Alley.

"This winning thing isn't that easy," Herron said after his winning 9 ˝-foot birdie putt on the 382-yard 17th hole.

It was Herron's first victory since Bay Hill in 1999. He earned $1.08 million — more than he made for his three previous Tour wins combined.

Herron, 36, said, "A lot of peers say I have great talent and I should win a lot more. ... That's why this win is great. This game is the biggest head game there is and weird things go through your head [during winless droughts]. This win really proved something to me."

Herron, who shot a 2-under 68, and Johnson (67) ended regulation tied at 12-under 268. He needed clutch par-saving putts on the last two holes of regulation after a bogey at the 188-yard 16th hole.

"I guess I made it more fun for the viewers, and kept them tuned in," Herron said.

Herron enjoyed the winner's plaid jacket.

"I think I look great in it," he said. "Next year, at the champions dinner, I'm going to come up with some matching pants. I'll find someone to make them, if I have to."

Johnson's previous best Tour finish was a tie for third in 2003.

"When I three-putted 16, I thought it was pretty much over," said Johnson, who had birdies on the last two holes of regulation.

Rod Pampling, who won at Bay Hill in March and was in the final group with Herron, had his second straight even-par round after his career-best 63 Friday. He finished alone in third, two strokes back, despite a double bogey on the 15th hole.

Seattle native Fred Couples closed with a 67 and tied for 25th place. Ryan Moore of Puyallup, playing in his first Tour event since having hand surgery in late March, shot a final-round 70 and tied for 65th.

Ochoa takes Sybase

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. — Lorena Ochoa of Mexico extended her impressive run with a two-stroke victory in the Sybase Classic, the sixth straight LPGA Tour event in which she has finished first or second.

Ochoa closed with 5-under 66 for a 5-under 208 total in the rain-shortened event. She earned $195,000 to retake the season earnings lead with $1,114,888.

Ochoa, who won the Takefuji Classic in April and has four seconds and a fourth this season, started the final round four strokes off the lead.

"The whole week I drove the ball well and that was the key," she said. "I feel comfortable right now. I know I can do it. I'm ready to win tournaments."

Hee-Won Han, the 2003 winner, shot a 69 to tie for second with rookie Kyeong Bae (66).

Other tournaments

• Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke was 2 under for eight holes to take a two-stroke lead in the suspended final round of the Irish Open in Maynooth. Play was scheduled to resume today.

• Matt Kuchar won for the first time since the PGA Tour's 2002 Honda Classic, two-putting for a birdie to beat Paul Claxton on the third hole of a playoff in the Nationwide Tour's Henrico County Open in Glen Allen, Va. Kuchar earned $81,000.