Daivs has to settle for second place again

ONCE again, it was so near for Brian Davis as he led the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday with nine holes to go. But in the end, it was a repeat story as he had to settle for second place, a first victory on the US PGA Tour continuing to elude him.

Davis, 35, the former Herts Boys and Colts champion from East Herts, was unable to match the dazzling putting display of American Zach Johnson, which brought him five birdies in eight holes over the final stretch.

He finished with a record 21 under par total of 259 after rounds of 65 66 64 64 to win by three strokes from Davis, who shot 64 65 65 68 for 262.

Davis led by a stroke from Johnson starting the final round, then 16 under par, He had moved to 19 under when he was joined by Johnson, who birdied 10 to take the lead, then dropped a shot for the pair to be level.

With superb putting – three birdies in four holes - he edged ahead to lead by two going down the 18th which he parred. At 17, Davis’s 8ft putt lipped out to end his challenge.

Davis, now a crowd favourite after calling attention to a rules breach from the sand at Hilton Head recently, missing the chance for victory, has now been second five times in US events.

Consolation has come with financial rewards - second place brought him almost 700,000 dollars, to follow only a slightly lesser amount at Hilton Head.