Golf: Smail stumbles at the final hole

David Smail battled oppressive heat and humidity to secure a share of fourth place in the Johnnie Walker Classic in Bangkok.

Smail carded a final round of 69 for a 14-under tally to fall three strokes behind Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Jimenez overcame a head-to-head struggle in the final round with Swede Thomas Bjorn to claim a two-stroke victory at 17 under.

He had a final round of 68.

Bjorn, who led the opening three rounds, shared second place on 15 under with India's Jyoti Randhawa.

Six players - Smail, American Shaun Micheel, the US PGA champion, Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee, Scotland's Simon Yates and Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin - were fourth on 14 under.

Smail began his last round in a share of fifth place after earlier rounds of 67, 69 and 69.

The 33-year-old Hamilton golfer, who is still suffering the ill-effects of a broken rib, teed off in the final group.

He birdied the opening two holes to race to 13 under and into a share of third place.

But Smail then dropped a shot at the next before shooting a birdie at the par five, fifth hole.

He dropped a stroke at the sixth, but quickly regrouped to birdie two holes in succession, including a spectacular chip-in from rough at the back of the green.

Smail's ball was lying unseen to spectators before he calmly chipped out and was delighted when the 15m shot disappeared into the cup.

It elevated Smail into third place by himself on 14 under and two adrift of Bjorn and Jimenez.

But he bogeyed the 11th and parred the next four before a birdie at the par-three 15th.

A seventh birdie of the round followed at the par five, 17th, to boost Smail into a share of second before he agonisingly three-putted the last for a bogey.

"I was thinking there for a while I might make it into a playoff, but I just didn't convert my chances when I needed to, despite starting with two birdies and then chipping in on the eighth," he said.

"But I then hit a poor tee shot on nine and could only manage a par.

"I just didn't feel right all day playing in this heat.

"The heat and humidity really got to me and I was struggling near the end. I'm just about beat.

"Despite that, I'm pleased with my game and this is a good result to take to the Heineken Classic in Melbourne."

Smail collected a cheque for €49,272 ($92,720).

Michael Long, the only other New Zealand player left in the event from a starting contingent of six, ended his campaign with a one-over 73 for a six-under tally.

* World No 2 Vijay Singh recorded his 11th consecutive finish in the top-10 of a PGA Tour event after a closing five-under 66 at the US$4 million ($6 million) Phoenix Open.

The Fijian carded a 15-under total of 269, three shots behind winner Jonathan Kaye, to join Steve Flesch in a tie for third place. Singh's streak is the longest on tour since Australia's Greg Norman finished the 1993 season with seven successive top-10 finishes and began 1994 with four more.

The dazzling run of form by Singh, which has included two victories, began with a tie for sixth place at the WGC-NEC Invitational last August. He has also finished in the top-10 in 14 of his last 15 events, the exception being a tie for 34th at the US PGA championship.

Only Jack Nicklaus has more consecutive finishes in the top 10 on the PGA Tour. He set the record in 1977 with 14 in a row. Nicklaus also reeled off 13 in succession in 1973 and two hot streaks of 12 in 1971 and 1975.

"It's nice to be finishing in the top-10, but it's also nice to win," Singh said.

"Maybe that's why I'm playing so well. I want to win any time I get in contention. I suppose that's why I'm intent on getting low numbers."

After two rounds, Singh's bid for another top-10 finish seemed to be a remote hope as he trailed eight strokes behind leader Phil Mickelson.

An eight-under 63 on Sunday, however, vaulted him into a tie for eighth.

- AGENCIES