DJ turns the tabes to win Chrysler Classic

DJ Trahan clawed back a four-stroke deficit to win the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic by three shots today.

Trahan, who earned US$918,000 (€633,030) for his second career victory, shot a final round seven-under-par 65 for a five-day total of 26 under.

Overnight leader Justin Leonard blew the chance to claim his 12th career victory after carding consecutive bogeys at the start of the back nine, losing his four-shot advantage by the 11th hole.

The 1997 Open champion finished runner-up after and even-par 72 overall, while Kenny Perry and Anthony Kim finished four strokes off the pace in third after both carded a 66.

"I'm very proud of the way I played," Trahan said.

"I knew it was going to be a hard-fought day. I had to go out there and shoot a low number and I did that."

In two previous appearances at this five-round pro-am event, Trahan failed to make the cut for the final day and managed only one score in the 60s in eight rounds.

His only other win was at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in 2006.

Leonard's four-stroke advantage with 18 holes to play looked insurmountable, especially when he posted a three-under 33 on the front nine and was three strokes up with nine holes to play.

"I played solidly the first eight holes," Leonard said.

"I was three under par. Obviously, DJ was playing well."

Trahan was one of four golfers tied for second going into the final round and birdied four of his first six holes.

Leonard's first birdie was a 10-foot putt at the third. He made a 40-foot birdie at the following hole to maintain a three-stroke lead after Trahan had chipped in from 34 feet off the right of the green.

Trahan started niggling away at Leonard's advantage just before the two made the turn. He sunk a six-foot birdie putt on the par-five 595-yard ninth to cut the lead to three.

Trahan played the par-fives well, collecting a birdie on all four of them.

"The front nine (Leonard) played so solidly, I knew I had to keep up with him," Trahan said. "The birdie on nine really sparked me."

On the 10th hole, there was a two-shot swing when Trahan made a 34-foot putt for a birdie and Leonard committed his first miscue of the day.

Leonard's second shot just reached the front of the green on the 474-yard par-four. He lagged his first putt to 12 feet, but could not save par.

The two were tied after the 11th hole when Leonard made his second consecutive bogey. His approach shot landed in the right greenside bunker and he was unable to get up and down.

"Bogeying 10, 11 from the fairway, they're difficult holes, but to make bogey there at those two holes was obviously a huge difference in the outcome," Leonard said.

"I never really gave myself a chance on the last four holes, which is disappointing."

With the two players tied, Trahan took the lead on the par-five 14th, reaching the green in two, lagging his first putt from 76 feet to five feet and confidently knocking in for a birdie.

The one-stroke advantage stayed until the 18th hole.

Trahan hit his drive on the fairway, but Leonard knocked his into the water on the right.

Trahan made no mistake to wrap up a remarkable comeback.

He has struggled with his putting in the past, but was delighted with his new-found form on the greens.

"It means a lot and it is the reason I (won)," he said.

"The greens are perfect and it is a birdie contest. I set a goal for myself to work on my putting and it went in the right direction this week."