Associated Press
Sunday, April 30

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Robert Allenby got his first PGA Tour victory the hard way.

	Craig Stadler managed just three birdies over 22 holes on Sunday.

In a four-hole playoff, Allenby went in the water once and behind a grandstand another time before finally making a 10-foot par putt to beat Craig Stadler and his erratic putter in the Houston Open on Sunday.

"I putted first on that last hole and I hoped it would put some pressure on Craig," Allenby said. "It was a shame we can't have two winners. Both of us played good golf all week. I would have been glad to share it."

Stadler, trying to win his first tournament since 1996, missed makeable putts on all four playoff holes, giving Allenby an emotional victory with his family and fellow Australian Stuart Appleby, the 1999 Houston Open champion, looking on.

"Last year was pretty emotional to see Stuart win, and this year he came up and it was pretty emotional," Allenby said. "With two great mates like that, we got kind of teary-eyed. My wife and baby got to see it too."

Allenby survived going into the water on the first playoff hole and won it despite hitting into the stands behind the green on the last extra hole.

"I must say I'm very relieved in more ways than one to get my first U.S. Tour victory," Allenby said. "I haven't won anything since 1996. It's been a long time between drinks."

Allenby started the final round with a one-shot lead over Stadler, but the two ended regulation tied at 13-under 275.

Stadler had a final-round 71 at the 7,018-yard TPC at The Woodlands. His putter did him in the playoff as he missed opportunities for the win on each of the first three holes.

"I hit a lot of good shots, but I hit a lot of poor putts," he said. "It's not like I didn't have enough chances, that's for sure.

"I was short all day long. I don't get it. I made a lot of 4- and 5-footers today."

But not in the playoff.

On the final playoff hole, the 421-yard 10th, Allenby hooked his tee shot into a bunker and his second shot went into the grandstands. He took a drop, chipped within 10 feet and made the putt. Stadler, whose second shot was over the green, then missed a putt from about the same distance.

Allenby, a four-time winner on the European Tour, earned $504,000. His best previous PGA Tour finish was a tie for second in this year's Phoenix Open. Stadler, who hasn't won since the 1996 Nissan Open, took home $302,400.

Loren Roberts, with a final-round 69, and Joel Edwards, with a 70, tied for third at 276, one stroke in front of Mark Brooks and Brad Fabel.

The playoff started at the par-4 18th and it looked bad for Allenby when his second shot was short and went into the water, while Stadler was on the green, thinking two putts would win the tournament.

But Allenby's fourth shot got him close, and he ran in the bogey-saving putt while Stadler three-putted from about 40 feet, leaving his second putt on the lip.

Stadler got his second chance at victory on No. 10 when he hit his second shot within five feet of the hole and this time he pulled it to the left. Allenby held with a par and they returned to No. 18 for the third playoff hole.

This time, Allenby went over the green with his second shot but saved par. Stadler missed a 5-foot birdie putt that would have wrapped it up once again.

In regulation, Allenby had a one-stroke lead until he bogeyed No. 17 when his chip shot from just off the green went well past the hole.

Stadler settled for a par and a share of the lead.

That brought the co-leaders to the final regulation hole where both players recovered with par-saving putts to force the playoff.