LA QUINTA - Arnold Palmer missed the cut by 29 strokes, but he gave the gallery one more great thrill yesterday when he posted a one-under-par 71 to shoot his age at the Bob Hope Classic in California.
The legendary Palmer, aged 71, became the first player since Sam Snead 22 years ago to accomplish the feat in a PGA Tour event.
"I was very aware I was going to be somewhere around my age when I came in and I wanted to do it, obviously," said Palmer, who was 18-over-par overall at 306.
Palmer finished the fourth round of the 90-hole event 47 strokes behind leader Joe Durant, who continued to set scoring records but played second fiddle to crowd favourite Palmer.
"God bless him for him to go out and play like he did today," said Durant. "We would not be sitting here today if it weren't for people like him."
Palmer recovered from a double bogey at the 16th, where he hit his tee shot into the water and three-putted, with a birdie on the par-3 17th and parred the last to reach his magic number at the PGA West course he designed.
"Golf is fun. That's why I am playing it. I enjoy the feeling I get when I am out there," said Palmer, who had rounds of 81, 79, 75, 71.
Scot Catriona Matthew completed a start-to-finish win with a par 72 for a three-stroke victory over Swede Annika Sorenstam in the $A1.44 million ($1.79 million) LPGA Hawaiian Open at Kapolei yesterday.
World No 1 Karrie Webb finished tied for ninth. She has played four tournaments, had four top 10 finishes, but no wins this year.
- AGENCIES
Golf: Palmer (71) shoots his age
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