MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Harrison Frazar knows he’s supposed to act as if he’s won before. Turns out it’s really tough the first time around, especially for someone who thought he’d missed his chance.
Frazar won his first PGA Tour title in his 355th tournament, beating Robert Karlsson with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday at the St. Jude Classic. He won a month before turning 40 when Karlsson pushed a par-saving putt 3 feet past the hole.
“It was a whirlwind there. This was the first time,” Frazar said. “I don’t know if I’m supposed to keep the seersucker jacket. I don’t know if I’m supposed to carry the trophy. You don’t know who you’re supposed to talk to. I felt bad. I didn’t thank the sponsors. I didn’t thank FedEx. I didn’t thank the volunteers. I was not quite sure really what was happening right then.
“The only tournament that I won in Q-school, you walked in, signed your card in the scoring trailer, and they gave you a pat on the back, ‘Good job.’ You walked out the door. There was nobody there.”
And Frazar had been so ready to quit golf he had plans lined up for a new job at the end of the year.
He turns 40 on July 29, misses his family back in Texas and is playing this year on a major medical exemption after separate surgeries on his hip and shoulder last summer.
In other events on Sunday:
Tseng takes State Farm Classic
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Top-ranked Yani Tseng won what could be the final LPGA State Farm Classic, closing with a 4-under 68 to hand Cristie Kerr her third straight second-place finish. Tseng, from Taiwan, had a 21-under 267 total on the Panther Creek course for her seventh tour title in four years. She also won the season-opening LPGA Thailand.
Wiebe gets win in playoff
CONOVER, N.C. — Mark Wiebe parred the third playoff hole following a weather delay and won the Greater Hickory Classic when James Mason missed a 4-foot par putt. Wiebe earned his first Champions Tour title since 2008 in a bizarre finish that included a delay following the first extra hole at Rock Barn. Mason, a 60-year-old Monday qualifier, three-putted from 20 feet to end his chances of earning a one-year playing exemption.
Rock cruises to victory
FIANO, Italy — Robert Rock completed a wire-to-wire victory in the Italian Open for his first European Tour title, shooting a 5-under 67 to fend off Thorbjorn Olesen and Gary Boyd. The 34-year-old Englishman finished at 21-under 267 at Royal Park Roveri for a one-stroke victory over Denmark’s Olesen (62) and England’s Boyd (66).
Late birdie gives Thompson win
RALEIGH, N.C. — Kyle Thompson won the Rex Hospital Open for the second time in five years, birdieing the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Scott Brown, Troy Kelly and Martin Flores. Thompson closed with a 3-under 68 to finish at 14-under 270 at TPC Wakefield Plantation. Brown shot a 68, and Kelly and Flores finished with 70s.