Jacobsen pays tribute to Stadler

PETER JACOBSEN paid tribute to Craig Stadler after shooting a three-under-par 67 for a two-stroke victory in the Greater Hartford Open – a tournament he won 19 years ago.

As a 30-year-old in 1984, Jacobsen won this event in the first year it was played at the TPC of Connecticut.

Jacobsen got a phone call from Stadler on Saturday night urging him on to victory so the pair could play together at the Mercedes Championship in January.

Jacobsen revealed: "He said, 'Look, if you win, we'll be paired together in January at the Mercedes Championship, because they pair you in order of your victories.'

"I actually thought about that all day. I love Craig Stadler.

"He's one of my great pals all the way back from college days."

Jacobsen had a solid, but unspectacular final round, as many of his challengers started slowly or faltered late on. He finished the tournament on 14 under at 266 two shots clear of Chris Riley.

Todd Fischer claimed third place after a final round of 65 left him on 269.