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Sauers suffered the heartbreak of losing in a playoff to
Colin Montgomerie in the same event in 2014, but the diminutive
American went one better this time when he sank a short par putt
on the last hole to edge Miguel Angel Jimenez and Billy Mayfair.
Sauers carded a closing 69 to finish on three-under-par 277 at
Scioto Country Club in Columbus.
Now 53, the four-time PGA Tour winner was hospitalized in 2011
after contracting a skin condition known as Stevens-Johnson
syndrome.
Blood vessels in his arms and legs clotted and his skin started
to burn from the inside out, leaving him in excruciating pain.
He was given only a 25 percent chance of surviving but made it
through with a series of successful skin grafts.
"I didn't think I'd ever be here. I told my wife when I was in
the hospital I didn't think I was ever coming out," an emotional
Sauers said at the victory presentation.
"I didn't touch a club for seven years and I didn't know if I'd
ever be playing again. It's pretty amazing to win a major. I'm
humbled to be here and thank the Lord for saving my life."
Sauers and Jimenez traded the lead during the final round, with
the Spaniard surrendering his advantage with an early
double-bogey before seizing it back with a 20-foot birdie at the
15th hole.
However, Jimenez bogeyed the par-three 17th after a poor tee
shot, leaving the pair tied heading to the par-four 18th, where
Jimenez missed a 10-foot par putt, opening the door for Sauers.
Trying to avoid thoughts of his playoff loss to Montgomerie in
Oklahoma, Sauers sank the putt to banish any demons lurking in
his head.
Finishing in equal second place alongside American Mayfair was
another bitter pill for Jimenez, who led into the final round at
the Senior British Open three weeks ago but double-bogeyed the
final hole to finish in a tie for third.
"I been hitting very good shots, and not enough putts," said the
52-year-old, a 21-time winner on the European Tour, who will no
doubt console himself with a trademark cigar and glass of red
wine.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by
John O'Brien)
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