Talk » an ideal race for Scales of Justice

MADISON, Miss. -- Woody Austins spent the past few years living the life of a golf nomad, not knowing when his next opportunity to play on the PGA Tour would come. Those days are over for a while. The 49-year-old Austin won the Sanderson Farms Championship on Sunday for his first PGA Tour victory since 2007, beating Cameron Beckman and Daniel Summerhays with an 8-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a playoff. "Its been a long road and a long time," Austin said. "Now Ive got a job again." Austin is the eighth-oldest winner in PGA Tour history and the oldest since Fred Funk won at 50 in 2007. The victory gave him a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a spot in the PGA Championship -- not to mention a $540,000 paycheque. Not bad for a guy who hadnt even made a cut on the tour this year. Austin came into the final round two shots behind Summerhays and Nicholas Thompson, but made up ground with a 5-under 67 to finish at 20-under 268. His final round didnt start particularly well -- he bogeyed No. 2 -- but he recovered with an eagle on No. 5 and birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to vault back into contention. "My iron play is my strength and it was there this week," said Austin, who has four career victories. "I was able to manoeuvr the ball around, get the ball close to the flag. The most important part of the game is putting and I putted good this week, plain and simple." Beckman and Summerhays both birdied No. 18 to match Austin, and Beckman missed a 5-foot putt that would have forced a second playoff hole. Beckman shot 67, and Summerhays had a 69. Summerhays and Thompson started the day tied for the lead, two shots ahead the pack. But Thompson fell out of contention quickly with a double bogey on No. 5 and a bogey on No. 8. He finished fourth at 18 under, two shots back after a 71. Summerhays moved into the lead with a birdie on No. 9, but made bogey on 14 and fell behind until making birdies on both Nos. 17 and 18. It was the second straight week Summerhays failed to close a tournament after having at least a share of the lead on the final day. His drive on the playoff hole -- the 532-yard, par-5 18th -- found the bunker on the right side of the fairway and he hit into the water on his second shot. He tied for fourth the week before at the John Deere, a stroke out of a playoff after bogeying the final hole. "Its tough to swallow for sure, but again, its my first playoff and there are all these new firsts," Summerhays said. "Hopefully I can continue to learn and grow." Summerhays praised Austin for making clutch putts in the final round. "Youve got to be kidding me -- hes 49 years old and kicking all our butts," Summerhays said. "Hats off to him." Austin wasnt the only veteran making a move on the final day. Beckman, a 43-year-old, recovered from a 72 in the opening round to post a 64, 65 and 67 in the final three rounds. He was tied for the lead at various times Sunday. He drilled an impressive 15-foot birdie putt to force the playoff, but his 5-foot putt on the playoff hole missed to the right. Billy Andrade charged up the leaderboard with a 65 to tie for fifth at 17 under. The 49-year-old started the day seven shots off the lead but climbed quickly by shooting 7 under through his first 11 holes. He finished with seven straight pars. It was the first day of the tournament that didnt involve a weather delay. But there was plenty of heat and humidity -- as well as some wind for the first time all week -- as players dealt with a soft course that received more than an inch of rain overnight. Austin managed it all and now has some decisions to make. He will turn 50 in six months, making him eligible for the Champions Tour. But Austin didnt sound like a guy ready to give up life on the PGA Tour. "Ive always told everybody I want to play out here," Austin said. "Im one of those people who doesnt like a number. I dont like the idea that people say, Oh, youre 50 years old, youre not good enough to play anymore and need to go play with the old guys ... For the past five years, Ive still felt that I have the ability to compete." He proved it on Sunday.Ender Inciarte Braves Jersey . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Glenn Hubbard Braves Jersey . Robredo, ranked No. 16, bounced back from an upset loss to Leonardo Mayer in the second round of the Royal Guard Open in Chile last week to down Carreno Busta in 1 hour, 25 minutes. 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He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. "I think its a good thing.Queensland officials will make it a priority to lure Perth star Scales of Justice to Brisbane for the $1.5 million Group One Stradbroke Handicap.Scales of Justice is the second favourite to add Saturdays Kingston Town Classic at Ascot to his Group One win in the Railway Stakes.The gelding is part-owned by Brisbanes Bill Andrews, a former Queensland rugby union player and solicitor, who has raced many handy horses in several states.Scales of Justice has won seven of his 13 starts and already earned $945,000 prize money.Brisbane Racing Club racing manager Bart Sinclair said the Stradbroke (1400m) in June was an ideal race for Scales of Justice.Bill is away on holiday in the bush and not in mobile phone range. But we will make it a priority to contact him after the Kingston Town Classic about getting SScales of Justice here, Sinclair said.ddddddddddddThe Stradbroke has always been a race for horses who can run a strong 1600 metres and Scales of Justice fills that need.West Australian horses rarely come to Queensland for the winter carnival but from limited numbers have had plenty of success over the years.Barossa Boy (Doomben 10,000, BTC Cup, BRC Sprint), Muros (Brisbane Cup), Scenic Shot (Doomben Cup, OShea Stakes), Pago King (BTC Classic), Fair Sir (BTC Classic) and Aquinita (Doomben 10,0000), are among Perth horses to have won in Brisbane.Andrews also part-owns Feltre who was an eye-catching third in his return to racing in the Listed Recognition Stakes on Saturday. ' ' '