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**administrator** · 10-26-2006, 04:42 PM

18th Merrill Lynch Shootout Results

Discuss the shootout here and keep everyone posted

Should be also, the teams are looking pretty nice, especially John Daly - J.B. Holmes

Quote:

Kelly and Pampling win Merrill Lynch Shootout

Kelly and Pampling win Merrill Lynch Shootout
by Associated Press

NAPLES, Fla. - Jerry Kelly and Rod Pamling won the Merrill Lynch Shootout on Sunday, beating Justin Leonard and Scott Verplank with a bogey on the first hole of a playoff in the Greg Norman-hosted event.

"We had a ton of fun out all day every day we were out there. We just really enjoyed each other's company," said Pampling, who teamed with Kelly after Peter Jacobsen dropped out after having a hip replaced.

Pampling and Kelly split $675,000 from the $2.75 million purse.

"I think it's really fun to win with a partner," Kelly said. "I think this is a really cool format. That's something special. Not many guys get to win with a partner."

Both teams closed with 13-under 59s in the scramble format to finish at 31-under 185 on the Tiburon Golf Club course. The 12 two-players teams opened with a modified alternate shot round Friday and played a best-ball round Saturday.

In the playoff, under the modified alternate shot format, Verplank left his approach shot short on the 18th and it rolled from the front of the green backward into a water hazard. Kelly hit his approach safely on the green, 25 feet away.

Leonard then took off his shoes and socks, and rolled up his pants to hit out of the hazard. He got the ball out of the hazard, but left it short of the green apron in some pine straw. Verplank then chipped to the edge of the green.

Pampling kept it interesting, running the birdie try 6 feet past. Leonard left bogey putt short, and Kelly's par try lipped out, so Pampling tapped in for the win.

John Huston and Kenny Perry, the 2005 winners, closed with a 59 to tie for third with Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini (59) and Chad Campbell and Nick Price (58) at 28 under.

Second-round leaders John Daly and J.B. Holmes struggled, birdieing just three off their first 12 holes. They birdied five of their last six for a 64 and a sixth-place tie with Fred Funk and Scott Hoch (58) at 27 under.

Norman, teaming with Nick Faldo, made a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole to avoid a tie for last with Annika Sorenstam and Fred Couples. Before the putt, Sorenstam playfully pointed at Faldo and Norman after holing a 20-footer.

Faldo missed his birdie try, but Norman made his and pointed right back at Sorenstam and Couples. Both teams finished with 60s.

Sorenstam was the first female golfer to play in the Shootout in its 18-year history.