Clark wins Australian Open after playoff

South African Tim Clark doesn't feel appreciated in his native land, but he might
have found a new home after capturing the $1.5 million Australian Open in dramatic
circumstances on Sunday.
The world No.42 prevailed in a playoff over Australian Mathew Goggin after New
Zealand's David Smail threw away what appeared an almost certain victory.
Smail led by three shots with four holes remaining, but carded consecutive
double-bogeys on the 15th and 16th holes to finish on eight-under, one shot out of
the playoff.
It then took just one extra hole for a winner to be declared, Clark getting up and
down out of a greenside bunker for par, while Goggin three-putted for bogey as the
South African grabbed the $270,000 first prize and the Stonehaven Cup.
Goggin was left with another disappointment after also finishing second behind Geoff
Ogilvy in last weekend's Australian PGA at Coolum.
Clark had felt his final round five-under 67 wasn't quite enough, but Smail's
meltdown opened the door and the South African, who turns 33 on Wednesday, accepted
the invitation.
"I didn't even consider there would be a playoff until about 30 minutes after I
finished," he said.
"I was watching the TV having a pie and chips, believe it or not, and thought I
better get down there and warm-up.
"It's obviously a bonus to get into the playoff and I feel bad for David the way he
finished.
"Then in the playoff I won it like that too. It's tough to win like that but at the
end of the day, I'm the winner."
One would assume a man who has twice won the South African Open and finished
runner-up at the US Masters would be lauded at home, but Clark has felt more
appreciated in Australia over the past three weeks.
"In all honesty I've felt more welcome here than I do when I go home," he said.
"People have been very excited for me to be here playing.
"I can feel the appreciation from the people around that I'm here playing and I
don't feel that when I'm at home.
"That's probably why I came down here this year."
That appreciation will only grow after winning the Open and he plans to return next
year.
"I guess I'll have to now," he said with a smile.
"I was probably going to come back and just play (the Australian Masters) and Coolum
but that's going to have to change."
Both Clark and Goggin were rather subdued after the playoff as they felt for Smail,
who seemingly had the Cup in his grasp.
"I'm just gutted," Smail said afterwards.
"I was a bit shattered after that (double-bogey on the 15th). I just really lost my
way."