Whether he's running away from the field or chasing from behind, Geoff Ogilvy has found the secret to winning the season-opening SBS Championship in Kapalua, Hawaii.
A year after winning by six shots, Ogilvy rallied Sunday from a two-shot deficit with 10 holes to play with flawless golf for a 6-under 67 and 21-under 270 total and a one-shot victory over Rory Sabbatini.
Ogilvy posted his eighth straight round in the 60s on the Plantation Course. He joined fellow Australian Stuart Appleby as the only repeat winners since the SBS moved to Kapalua in 1999, and he became only the seventh player in the 58 years of this winners-only tournament to win in consecutive years.
"We knew what we had to do," Ogilvy said. "I'd never been in that situation. I'm happy and excited to get it done. I needed to make birdies and I did."
Sabbatini, who started the final round six shots behind, ran off five straight birdies on the back nine to seize the lead and closed with a 63. He couldn't reach the green on the 663-yard 18th in two, however, and missed a 10-foot birdie.
•Charl Schwartzel of South Africa won the Africa Open. ... Europe beat Asia in the Royal Trophy match play event, with Henrik Stenson picking up a shot on the final hole to secure then 8 1/2 -to-7 1/2 victory.
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