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CROMWELL, Conn. — Marc Leishman shot an 8-under 62 on Sunday in the Travelers Championship, then went back to the clubhouse to eat, watch some soccer and wait to see where he would finish.
More than two hours later, after Charley Hoffman blew a two-stroke lead on the final two holes, Leishman was hoisting his first championship trophy on the PGA Tour.
“I think Charley was on the 15th when I turned the golf on,” Leishman said. “I watched that, then just went over and hit some balls and putted for a bit and it turned out well.”
The 28-year-old Australian began the day six strokes behind the leaders, but made eight birdies in a bogey-free round. He finished at 14-under 266.
“I didn’t think it was going to be enough,” he said. “Golf is a funny game, a really funny game.”
Hoffman was 16 under heading to the 17th hole, but pushed his tee shot right and into the water. He made a double bogey, and bogeyed the 18th after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.
“When it’s said and done, obviously a bad finish and a bad taste in my mouth, but you learn from it,” he said. “Any time you put yourself in contention, you learn from that.”
Hoffman closed with a 66 to tie for second with Masters champion Bubba Watson, who shot a 65.
Leishman became the fifth player in seven years to break through with their first tour win at River Highlands, joining Fredrik Jacobson last year, Watson in 2010, Hunter Mahan in 2007 and J.J. Henry in 2006.
Leishman’s 62 was the lowest score in a final round by a champion on tour this season.
LPGA: In Waterloo, Ontario, Brittany Lang won the Manulife Financial LPGA Classic for her first LPGA Tour title, birdieing the par-5 18th three straight times in a playoff.
Lang missed a birdie try on the hole in regulation, leaving her tied with Hee Kyung Seo, Inbee Park and Chella Choi at 16-under 286. Choi was eliminated on the first extra hole, and Park dropped out on the second.
Lang closed with her second straight 67, Choi had a 63, Seo a 67, and Park a 69.
CHAMPIONS: In Sainte-Julie, Quebec, Mark Calcavecchia won the Montreal Championship for his second Champions Tour title, matching the course record with an 8-under 64 for a four-stroke victory.
Calcavecchia, 52, had six birdies and chipped in for eagle on the par-5 16th hole. He finished at 16-under 200.
Brad Bryant shot a 65 to finish second. Second-round leader Bob Tway and first-round leader Russ Cochran tied for third at 11 under.
EUROPEAN: In Pulheim, Germany, Danny Willett of England won his first European Tour title after beating Marcus Fraser of Australia in a playoff at the BMW International Open.
Willett shot a final-round 73 for an 11-under 277 total to finish with a share of the lead with Fraser. Willett sealed his win at the fourth extra hole with a par when Fraser only managed a bogey.
