Calcavecchia wins nailbiter

Mark Calcavecchia won the Pods Championship in a dramatic finish today.

The 1989 Open champion thought he was heading to a play-off after missing a seven-foot par putt at the final hole, but Heath Slocum missed a four-footer moments later to hand victory to the shocked 46-year-old.

“I never expected him to miss that,” said Calcavecchia, who shot 70 to finish at 10-under 274, one shot ahead of Slocum (71) and fast-finishing Australian John Senden (66) at Innisbrook.

It is Calcavecchia’s 13th PGA Tour victory, worth $954,000 (€750,400), 10% of which will go to caddie Eric Larson, who was released from prison last year after serving nearly 11 years for selling cocaine.

Calcavecchia took a one-shot lead to the par-four 18th, but came up short in long rough with his approach shot, before hitting a poor chip.

Still, he had an uphill putt for a certain victory.

He started his ball right of the hole, and watched in dismay as it failed to break.

Slocum had a downhill putt for force a play-off, but missed it left, and suddenly it was all over.