Perez triumphs in Mexico to end seven-year PGA drought

BACK TO WINNING: Pat Perez of the United States poses with the 2016 champion trophy after winning the OHL Classic at Mayakoba on Sunday in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. Perez shot a final-round 67, winning his first PGA Tour title since 2009. (AFP)

MEXICO CITY: Pat Perez fired five birdies in a four-under par 67 on Sunday to win the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico, claiming his second US PGA Tour title seven years after his first.
The 40-year-old American was playing just his third tournament since returning from an eight-month absence recovering from shoulder surgery.
“I was really calm,” said Perez, adding that a more aggressive mindset had him feeling confident his comeback could produce his first victory since the 2009 Bob Hope Classic.
“I just had a lot of confidence when I came back,” he said. “I started about 2 1/2 months ago and I didn’t think it was going to happen this fast, but I thought it was going to be pretty successful, my comeback.”
His five birdies came in his first eight holes on the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleon course in Playa del Carmen, and after one blip, a bogey at the 12th, he parred his way home to triumph with a 21-under par total of 263.
He was two shots in front of overnight leader Gary Woodland, who closed with a 70 for 265.
Scotland’s Russell Knox was alone in third after a 66 for 266.
Kevin Streelman (65), Chez Reavie (67) and Scott Piercy (70) tied for fourth on 267.
Woodland got off to a slow start with bogeys at the first and third, but he claimed the last of his four birdies at 17 and 18 to secure second place.
Goydos wins Champions finale, Langer takes season title
In Scottsdale, Arizona, Paul Goydos and Bernhard Langer got the big trophies and checks Sunday in the PGA Tour Champions’ season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship.
Goydos completed a wire-to-wire victory in the tournament, and Langer finished second to win his third straight season points title and fourth overall.
Goydos shot a 4-under 66 to finish at 15-under 195 on Desert Mountain’s Cochise Course. He opened with a 62 in windy conditions and shot a 67 on Saturday to take a two-stroke lead in the final round.
Langer had a 64. Recovering from a left knee injury that forced him to withdraw from the playoff opener at Sherwood, the 59-year-old German star won the $1 million annuity as the Charles Schwab Cup season champion and also topped the tour with four victories and $3,016,959.
Colin Montgomerie had a 68 to finish third at 11 under.
Woody Austin (64) and 62-year-old Jay Haas (68) tied for fourth at 7 under.
The 52-year-old Goydos earned $440,000. He also won the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in July in New York and has four victories on the 50-and-over tour. He won twice on the PGA Tour and shot a 59 in the 2010 John Deere Classic.