Tarik Can proves he can do it

MANILA, Philippines — In the end, it boiled down to putting – plus a mix of grit and resolve – as steady Tarik Can of the US canned in a delicate eight-foot par putt in sudden death to edge Nirun Sae Ueng of Thailand for the Aboitiz Invitational 2019 crown that was up for grabs until the final stroke at Wack Wack East course yesterday.

Can missed wrapping it all up with a bogey on the 72nd hole from almost the same distance for a 73, enabling Sae Ueng to force extension with a gutsy par-save from 20 feet for his own version of a one-over card aided by a clutch birdie on the 17th as the duo finished tied at 292 after sharing second after 54 holes.

But Can proved steadier when it mattered most, matching Sae Ueng’s solid drive on their second trip on No. 18 in the day, hitting a superb wedge shot from the back of the green to within eight feet then burying the putt that shattered the Thai, whose bid to send the match into another hole fizzled out after stroking it long from a shorter seven-foot distance after a superb wedge shot from deep roughs in a fitting ending to a week full of surprises and shifting fortunes.

“I managed to get it up and down from behind the green in the playoff. It’s my first win in Asia and first in PGTA and I can’t believe I won with a four-over par total,” said Can, who highlighted his final round charge with a spectacular shot from under the trees on No. 4 to salvage par and stay in the hunt with a three-over overall card.

He also knocked in a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 13 to surge ahead then came through with clutch pars, including another save on No. 16, to hold sway before steeling himself up in the playoff to claim the victory worth $17,5000.