The final day of play at Macau would serve up the most drama of an already eye-catching week of golf at Macau Golf and Country Club with John Catlin sealing victory over a late charging David Puig on a second playoff hole.
Catlin would start his day in the final group two shots clear of the chasing pack and had a solid outward nine hitting eight of nine GIR with four birdies to consolidate his lead. After a historic round of 59 yesterday, the American had kept his composure and it looked like tying up the weekend would be a formality as he turned for home.
Compatriot Partick Reed was one of those putting fine rounds together in an attempt to reel in the overnight leader. Reed, who was finding greens for fun, had only a solitary bogey in a seven-under round of 63 to leave him on -20 for the tournament. Lucas Herbert too, would stake his claim on the tournament on final day Sunday. A chip in birdie on the par-3 sixth and a run of four on his homeward nine would leave Herbert on a final score of-21, just coming up short of today’s final two.
One man not to let Catlin have it all his own way was Friday’s overnight leader, and the man who’d gotten the better of him at the Malaysian open, David Puig. Puig would even go close to equalling yesterday’s momentous 59 scorecard but for a single blemish as he bogeyed the par-4 fifth. It was the back nine that his charge would take shape, five birdies, an eagle and a remarkable eleven puts on his homeward nine would see the Spaniard post the number in the clubhouse and lay down the challenge for Catlin. -23 the number to beat after Puig’s final day 60.
Catlin had started today in -18 and with his birdie on 10, he reached -23. The first wobble came on 11 with a bogey and a run of pars. There were mixed fortunes on the par-3s for Catlin as he birdied on 15 but a missed green on 17 left him scrambling up-and-down to save par. Starting 18 tied for the lead and with the low scoring on this hole all weekend, it would seem a formality. Not to be on this turn around for Catlin missing his short birdie putt for the tournament, much to the amazement of the watching gallery. Having made his par, playoffs it was.
The momentum on the first playoff hole seemed to be swinging the way of Puig with Catlin’s second flirting with out of bounds, only to receive a fortunate free drop from a roadway behind the hospitality. Puig would almost hole out for eagle from the bunker, tapping in for birdie while Catlin would chip into six foot and hold his nerve to putt for birdie and a second playoff hole.
Puig again would find the green in two while Catlin’s errant second would again leave him with a chip from the right of the green. A poor putt from Puig and the American struck, instructing the pin to be removed and attacking the shot. He would almost hole out leaving a kick in birdie and piling pressure on Puig. A miss from Puig and victory for Catlin after an epic tussle on Sunday.
Speaking after his winning putt Catlin reflected on the battle: “We made it more difficult than we had to”, he said. “Still hasn’t quite sunk in, and that was one heck of a battle.”
“I mean, if you told me I would finish minus 23 on the tournament and I still had to be in a playoff, I’d be like, you’re kidding. But I mean, it was a special week. I fought really hard. You know, I was battling all week long and to come out on top is really really special.
Victory for Catlin this week will feel extra sweet having lost out to Puig in the season-opening event in Malaysia, finishing T3 behind the Spaniard and missing out on qualification for this year’s Open Championship on countback. The win moves Catlin into second on the Asian tour order of merit, just behind Puig. More battles between these two to come in Asia.
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