North Carolina State University Athletics
Former Pack Golfer Gets First PGA Tour Victory
10/31/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Oct. 31, 2005
PALM HARBOR, Florida -- Carl Pettersson steadied his nerves and his swing down the stretch Sunday, saving par with a tough chip on the 15th and a clutch putt on the 16th for an even-par 71 to win the Chrysler Championship for his first PGA TOUR victory.
Chad Campbell made five birdies on the back nine in a terrific charge, including a 12-foot putt that swirled into the cup on the 18th hole for a 67 that left Pettersson no room for error.
Leading by one shot, Pettersson found the middle of the fairway and hit his approach 20 feet by the cup. Trying to nestle the ball close to the hole, he ran it 3 feet by, but made that for par and the $954,000 prize.
Pettersson, born in Sweden and raised in North Carolina, had always dreamed of playing and winning on the PGA TOUR, and this capped it off. He finished at 9-under 275, but not before an improbable chip on the 15th to save par, a 10-foot par save on the next hole and no mistakes on the last two.
"It was a little easier in the dreams," Pettersson said. "It's nice to finish it off the way I did."
