Topeka Capital-Journal, The: Watson's putt on 9 just short Veteran waits, then edges Watson on

See Scoreboard for scores from the event.

Page 4D

BAYER ADVANTAGE CLASSIC

DANA QUIGLEY, after defeating Tom Watson in a playoff

Tom Watson

lost to Quigley in playoff

Please see BAYER, Page 3D

Continued from Page 1D

Bayer: Quigley felt small remorse for beating local favorite

By Rick Dean

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

OVERLAND PARK --- The hometown favorite came within an eyelash of winning. His potential winning putt on the final hole of regulation might well have fallen had a stronger Kansas wind favored the man from Kansas City.

But no, the storms that plagued the weather-shortened Bayer Advantage Classic deserted Tom Watson when he most needed a breeze Monday. His 25-foot birdie putt for the tournament championship stayed on the lip despite Watson giving it every chance to fall, and his 6-under Monday total left him in a three-way tie for the lead at 11-under in the 36-hole event.

It was not where Watson wanted to be. Not when Dana Quigley was waiting for the playoff.

The Ironman of the Champions Tour, the Charles Schwab Cups points leader who has played 275 consecutive senior events for which he's been eligible, Quigley --- an earnest craps and blackjack player --- has Watson's number in winner-take-all situations.

On the first playoff hole he hit a 6-iron to within 11 feet of the hole. Watson, who hit a seven, was 40 feet off, and Gil Morgan was off the green entirely.

Watson sensed immediately that it was over. "I'd been watching (Quigley) on the putting green as we were getting ready for the playoff," he said. "I knew he was hot."

He was. Quigley hit his putt dead center to record his second playoff victory over Watson this season --- after taking a three- hole playoff in the season's first event --- and his second sudden- death victory over Watson in a Kansas City tournament.

In doing so Quigley won $248,000 for his second tour victory of the season and his ninth overall. It was was his second Champions victory in Kansas City.

It was in 2000 that Quigley matched Watson's match-tying birdie on 18 with a winning birdie of his own to win the T.D. Waterhouse Classic at Tiffany Greens.

"We've got to do something about that boy. We've got to keep him at the casinos longer," said Watson, who remains winless in his hometown. "I've got a lousy (playoff record) on the Champions Tour, worse than the Royals. Maybe I can still turn it around like they have."

Quigley --- who like Morgan had to wait more than an entire day after finishing his 36 holes at 11-under before a storm suspended play Sunday --- prepared mentally for the possible playoff by shooting craps at the Ameristar Casino.

"When my legs got tired, I played blackjack," he noted. "They had to know I was about to make some money, because they kept taking mine. But I had to keep my mind off what was happening here."

What was happening over at the Nicklaus Golf Club at LionsGate was that Watson was making a title run.

After getting birdies on three of the six holes he played before Sunday's weather suspension, Watson made his run at the Quigley/ Morgan 11-under target with birdies on three of the first eight holes he played when play finally resumed Monday afternoon. He was at 11-under with four holes to play, and Quigley figured he and Morgan would never be called off the practice tee.

"Tom looked like he'd win it," Quigley said. "I figured I'd spent the whole day waiting in vain. But the golf gods have been with me a long time."

They were on Watson's final hole, No. 9 after teeing off Monday on the back nine. Needing a birdie to go 12-under, his double- breaking putt did everything right except to rattle the cup.

"I missed short, makeable putts the whole round," Watson lamented. "I don't want to sound like sour grapes --- well, maybe I do. I had a lot of should-haves, could-haves today."

Quigley, who is fast building his own Kansas City fan base --- the Red Sox fan from Rhode Island thanked the Royals for sweeping the hated Yankees last week --- felt some small remorse for the vanquished hometown hero.

"I know I let the fans of Kansas City down by beating Tom," he said. "It would be a cool thing for him to win. I'd like to see Tom win here, too. But I don't think he'd do it for me in Boston."

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dana Quigley celebrates after hitting a birdie putt on the first playoff hole to defeat Tom Watson and Gil Morgan. Quigley hit a 6- iron to within 11 feet to set up the winning shot.