Tim’s time, but Allenby ‘super happy’ with Players showing

ROBERT ALLENBY was “super happy” with his performance at the Players Championship even though his bid for a first US Tour victory in nine years was dashed by his good friend Tim Clark.

The Australian was Clark’s closest challenger over the last three holes but he had to settle for second place, just a shot behind, after his eagle putt on 16 and birdie attempt on 17 fell agonisingly short of dropping into the cup.

“The golfing gods were with Tim today, and I can accept that,” Allenby, who has not triumphed in the United States since the 2001 Pennsylvania Classic, said after closing with a two-under-par 70 at the TPC Sawgrass.

“It’s not a problem. I did everything I could possibly do to try and win the tournament. I’m super happy with the way I played and it was Tim’s time, that’s for sure. He’s a great player and he deserves to win. He’s a good friend of mine and it’s been a long time coming for him over here. I’m just really happy for him.”

The victory for South Africa’s Clark finally clinched his breakthrough win after eight barren years on the circuit.

Clark charged to victory with a flawless 67, the lowest score of the day on a treacherous Sawgrass layout where the greens ran lightning fast and were difficult to hold with approach shots.

The straight-hitting South African posted a 16-under total of 272 and Allenby, with three holes remaining, was unable to catch him despite playing smart, aggressive golf.

A superb four-iron into the par-five 16th green left him with a 16-foot eagle putt that pulled up on the edge of the cup.

After tapping in for birdie to get within a stroke of the lead, Allenby struck a nine-iron to 12 feet at the par-three 17th and then watched as his birdie attempt there stopped a fraction of an inch short.

“That was probably the most disbelief that I’ve ever witnessed, especially in those circumstances knowing that it’s got to go in to tie Tim,” said Allenby, a four-times winner on the US Tour.

“And for it to go up to the hole and take a little look over the top and then come back, that was a bit rude.”