DIVOTS

Glover loses grip on lead

KAPALUA, Maui » If Lucas Glover plans to give up the game after yesterday's collapse down the stretch at the SBS Championship, the U.S. Open winner didn't say so at the end of yesterday's final round.

Leading all three days, Glover closed with a 3-over 76 to drop from first to a tie for 14th at 14-under 278. He began the day with a one-shot lead over eventual champion Geoff Ogilvy, who he was paired with over the closing 18 holes. His explanation for not getting it done in a critical moment?

“;I didn't play very good,”; Glover said. “;I didn't feel any different yesterday or today. I did everything the same, prepared the same in the morning. I don't know, I just didn't have it. Maybe it was a little nerves, maybe not. I didn't feel nervous. I wasn't short of breath or anything. I just didn't have it.”;

Ogilvy caught Glover on the first hole with a birdie and didn't look back. He said it was difficult to watch Glover's collapse, but said everybody has a bad Sunday from time to time.

Internationals rule

The Internationals have it, and then some.

For the ninth consecutive time a golfer from beyond the shores of the United States took home the winners-only trophy. Several golfers have theories as to why that has happened, but the general consensus is they are playing in events held in Asia, Australia and South Africa while the PGA Tour is on holiday.

Ogilvy became the second man from Australia to successfully defend his title since the event moved to Maui in 1999. Ogilvy and fellow Aussie Stuart Appleby have won five of the last seven. Jim Furyk was the last American to win, in 2001.

One theory? Tiger Woods doesn't play here anymore.

Love the 60s

Ogilvy's win marked the fifth time the winner posted all four rounds in the 60s since the event moved to West Maui in 1999. For Ogilvy, it marks the eighth consecutive round he has been in the 60s en route to winning this event the last two years.

The other three winners to turn this trick were David Duval in 1999, Furyk in 2001 and Ernie Els in 2003. The first two years Ogilvy played here he had no rounds in the 60s to finish tied for 13th in 2006 and tied for 19th in 2007.

“;It was crazy wind the first two times I was here,”; Ogilvy said. “;There were squalls, wind, frustrating weather. I didn't understand the paradise part of it. I liked the paradise at the hotel. But you came back up the hill and it was rainy and windy. I didn't get it to be honest with you.”;

Lone bird

Paul Casey had the only eagle in yesterday's final round, thanks to a 14-foot putt at the ninth. Casey and Sean O'Hair recorded eagles at the par-5 18th during the second round this week to lead the 2010 Kodak Challenge after the first event of the year.

Inside the numbers

There were three bogey-free rounds yesterday, by world No. 3 Steve Stricker (66), defending Sony Open champ Zach Johnson (68) and Rory Sabbatini (63). No golfer went bogey-free the entire weekend, although Matt Kuchar did begin 2010 bogey-free for 46 holes before a double at No. 11 on Saturday.

The hardest hole in the Kona winds was the par-4, 520-yard first with a scoring average of 4.179. There were two birdies—one by Ogilvy—20 pars, five bogeys and a double bogey by Bo Van Pelt. For the fourth straight day, the easiest hole was the par-5 ninth with a scoring average of 4.143. There was one eagle by Casey, along with 22 birdies and five pars.