ESPN550.com
Geoff Ogilvy capped a wire-to-wire win in the Mercedes-Benz Championship by closing with a 68 to finish with a six-stroke victory in the season's first PGA event.
The Aussie closed the books at Kapalua's par-73 Plantation Course at 24-under par with a score of 268 to claim the $1.1 million first prize in the winner's-only tournament.
Ogilvy, who had shot impeccable golf during the opening three rounds, struggled a bit early on Sunday. But Ogilvy then went on a scoring binge, put up an eagle on the ninth hole and followed that up with birdies on five of the next holes to regain a commanding lead en route to his fifth career tour victory.
Davis Love III and Anthony Kim, who closed the deficit to one stroke in early in the final round, tied for second at 274. Hawaii's Parker McLachlin tied for 24th in the 33-player field -- 18 strokes off the pace -- and earned $64 thousand.
The final round was played under overcast skies, which was fitting considering that future of the event at Kapalua seems to be under a cloud.
In interviews conducted during the tournament, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem spoke in veiled terms when discussing the future of the Mercedes-Benz Championship remaining at its current home of 11 years.
There have been persistent rumors that the tour is seeking to move the tournament elsewhere after Kapalua's contract and Mercedes-Benz' sponsorship deal with the PGA expires following next year's event.
There also has been speculation that the event may remain on Maui, but move to one of the courses at Wailea. Others say that if there is a move, it would be to the mainland -- which almost certainly means somewhere in California or Florida.
Then there's the concern about a potential domino effect. If the Mercedes-Bench championship is relocated to the mainland, how would that impact the future of the Sony Open, the first full-tour event of the season held on Oahu the week following the Mercedes-Benz?
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