PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Paul Broadhurst completed his second PGA Tour Champions victory of the year in a few nervous moments on Sunday, closing with an even-par 72 at Pebble Beach to win the Pure Insurance Championship by three shots.
Broadhurst was five shots ahead going into the final round and extended that to six shots. But the lead was cut to two when Alex Cejka fired a 64, and the Englishman held on until the end.
He birdied the famous par-5 18th hole, hitting 6 feet for his second birdie. It was only important to the final margin, although it was important to Broadhurst for other reasons.
“I didn’t want to shoot for a draw and win,” Broadhurst said. “My kids were going to give me the stick. I was happy to punch the last one.”
Broadhurst, who finished at 14-under 202, got up-and-down for a difficult par on the par-3 17th that kept his lead at two shots playing the final hole.
Cejka went out on the 13th fairway for eagle while trying to make an 11-shot error. Broadhurst tried to keep it simple, but a few errant shots after he made a chance gave him a moment. He played 13 and 15, and the lead was reduced to two.
“I’ve never been in that position, I’m ahead with five goals,” he said. “I tried to play hard, and I felt like I made nine holes. I hit a few shots to the right, and you start thinking a little bit.”
Broadhurst took the lead with a 64 at Pebble Beach on Saturday — he opened with a 66 at Spyglass Hill — giving him a huge lead. He had eight more shots on the final day, the result of protecting a large lead.
“Yesterday I just hit it really well, I hit it close and made putts. Today was a different story,” he said. “I was just sitting — I hit the greens, 30 feet, two putts, get out there and don’t try to make too many stupid mistakes. That was the difference.”
But he was all smiles there, adding to his victory earlier this year at the Invited Celebrity Classic outside of Dallas. Broadhurst, a 59-year-old from England, has two major titles among his seven PGA Tour Champions titles.
He moved up to No. 8 in the Charles Schwab Cup.
Rocco Mediate (69), Doug Barron (70) and Vijay Singh (71) tied for third. Ernie Els closed with a 68 and tied for 22nd, but it was good enough to hold the lead in the Charles Schwab Cup.
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