Golf story by Gareth Bowman, Mon, 13 Feb 2006 21:24:00 GMT


PEBBLE BEACH, California - Arron Oberholser appeared to be overwhelmed by the occasion on Sunday and made a couple of basic errors, but managed to hold his nerve in the final stretch to clinch the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Oberholser walked with steady step down the18th fairway as he sealed an even-par 72 and a five-shot victory, which also happened to equal the biggest victory margin in the history of the tournament. The win is Oberholser's first PGA Tour title and came on a course he had played as a teenager.

The win was not all roses and honey though. Oberholser won because of numerous errors by an unusually nervous Mike Weir and then of course he was also helped by a tree! Weir was tied with Oberholser going into the final round and slipped his shot out of bounds on the second hole. He then dropped five shots behind after three holes.

Comfortably placed, Oberholser began missing simple shots and on the 15th looked to have squandered his chance when his shot hit a tree and bounced back. With a good view of the green, Oberholser turned what could have been disaster into a birdie and was rewarded with a fine win. "I always watched guys, growing up, win the golf tournament, and the walk up 18 at Pebble Beach is unlike anything else," he said after the win.

"Even when you're playing here by yourself, or with a foursome, it's still an incredible walk. But knowing that you're the champion. ... I wish everybody could feel that way. It's incredible." Weir was disappointed with his performance and said his ball had mud on it after his shots, "My wedge game and putting was what killed me," he said. "When you hit 13 of 14 fairways and shoot 78, your wedge and putting is not very good."

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