Stewart Cink defended his title in The Ally Challenge for his second PGA Tour Champions victory of the year, beating Ernie Els with a par on the first hole of a playoff Sunday. Cink closed with a 4-under 68, birdieing two of the last three holes, to match Els at 15-under 201 at Warwick Hills. Els parred the final five holes in a 69. ‘I’m not sure if it adds or subtracts years off your life because it’s pretty stressful,’ Cink said. ‘But if you’re the one that wins, if you’re on that side of the stick on this thing, then it feels great. It was a lot of fun. I putted great down the stretch. Ernie wasn’t doing anything wrong and he was just in the wrong place today.’ Cink won the Insperity Invitational in May, beating Retief Goosen, and has won eight times on the PGA Tour, topped by the 2009 Open Championship.
Imagine the thrill of defending a championship title, especially when it comes down to a nailbiting playoff. That’s exactly what Stuart Sink experienced at the Ally Challenge in Grand Blanc, Michigan, securing his second PGA Tour Champions victory of the year by edging out Ernie L’s with a par on the first playoff hole. But here’s where it gets controversial. Some might argue that the pressure of playoffs can either age you prematurely or rejuvenate your competitive spirit. Sink finished strong with a 4 under 68, including two birdies in the last three holes, which brought him to a tie with El’s at 15 under 2011 at Warwick Hills. El’s maintains steady play, pairing the final five holes to finish with a 69. I’m not sure if it adds or subtracts years off your life because it’s pretty stressful, Sink reflected, adding, but if you’re the one that wins, if you’re on that side of the stick on this thing, then it feels great. It was a lot of fun. I puted great down the stretch. Ernie wasn’t doing anything wrong and he was just in the wrong place today. For context, Sink, now 52, had already claimed a win earlier this year at the Insperity Invitational in Texas, also in a playoff against Retif Gusen. His career boasts eight victories on the PGA Tour with the 2009 Open Championship standing out as his most significant triumph. Sink started the tournament with a bang, shooting a 62 in the opening round, followed by a 71 on Friday, which left him trailing L’s by a single stroke heading into the final round. And this is the part most people miss the importance of maintaining composure and precision under pressure, which sink clearly demonstrated. Other notable performances came from Steven Alker who shot a 65. Cameron Percy and Saurin Jelson both with 70s tying for third at 12 under. Retif Gusen and Thong Chai Jaid also performed well finishing at 11 under. What do you think about the impact of playoffs on a player’s mental and physical health? Does the stress outweigh the glory or is it a necessary part of the game that only the best can handle? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
