Oberholser gets first Tour win at Pebble Beach

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – Arron Oberholser was shaky down the stretch Sunday until a big break turned into an unlikely birdie, allowing him to coast the final three holes Sunday and win the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Oberholser enjoyed a proud, peaceful walk up the 18th fairway on his way to an even-par 72 and a five-shot victory, matching the largest margin in the 77-year history of the tournament. Sweeter still was capturing his first PGA Tour event on a course he has played since he was a teenager, and a tournament he rarely missed.

But it required plenty of help – first from Mike Weir, then from a tree.

Weir, tied with Oberholser going into the final round, went out of bounds on the second hole and was five shots behind after three holes. The former Masters champion staggered to a 78 and tied for third.

Oberholser had a six-shot lead with six holes to play but started missing shots. He took bogey from the fairway bunker on the 13th, and flared his second shot on the par-5 14th under a tree in the right rough, having to punch out sideways and escaping with bogey.

Then came his tee shot on the 15th. It hit the cart path twice and was headed for trouble when it bounced off a tree and kicked back into an opening. With a view of the green, Oberholser hit wedge into 8 feet and turned the mishap into a birdie to restore his margin.

“That was a good break,” Oberholser said.

Oberholser finished at 17-under 271, five shots ahead of Rory Sabbatini.