Wagner wins Sony Open

Johnson Wagner worked so hard in the offseason that he told friends he was going to win early in the year, and he lived up to those boasts by claiming the Sony Open title on Sunday.

Wagner played bogey-free over the last 12 holes, a winning recipe on a tough day at Waialae, and closed with a 3-under 67 to pull away from a half-dozen contenders and take the title.

"I was definitely telling people to expect something early this year, which is a nice feeling," Wagner said. "Usually, my confidence is low. I'm kind of shy in a little shell. And for some reason, I just had way more energy and confidence going into this year."

Wagner was among six players who had a share of the lead at some point in the final round. He was the only guy to stay there, and wound up with a two-shot win over Carl Pettersson, Sean O'Hair, Harrison Frazar and Charles Howell III.

Frazar took the outright lead with a birdie on No 10, but had to settle for pars the rest of the way for a 67. Howell was paired with Wagner and stayed with him until a three-putt par on the par-5 ninth. He birdied the last hole for a 69. O'Hair narrowly missed a 30-foot eagle putt on the last hole and shot 67, while Pettersson overcame a double bogey on his second hole with four birdies on the last six holes for a 67.

They all tied for second behind Wagner, who seized control with a 9-iron into the 15th that was pin-high, just off the green. He rolled that in for birdie, and then didn't come close to making a mistake until he nearly missed a tap-in par on the 18th.

Coming into the year, Wagner had only seven top 10s - including two wins - in 139 tournaments. He had never made it to the Tour Championship and played in only four majors.

But what a transformation. Along with his work ethic in the offseason, he began jotting notes and goals into a notebook, using the green cover he received in 2008 from his lone Masters appearance.

"I love being out here. There's so many great players," he said. "But why are they any better? Why are the people in the top 50 better than me? I've always struggled a little bit with believing in myself."

As for that mustache getting so much attention?

"Kind of made a deal with myself in December that if I was to get into the Masters, then I was going to keep the mustache for at least this year," he said. "Everybody said, 'Oh, is it a Movember mustache? Well, it's December, time to shave it.' I said, Look, this is not a one-month mustache. This is potentially a 10-year mustache.'

"So it's going to be around for a while."

Jeff Maggert and Matt Every, tied for the lead going into the last day, both collapsed early. Every was 4 over through six holes and finished with a 72. Maggert missed a slew of short putts and shot 74.

LEADING FINAL-ROUND SCORES

267 - Johnson Wagner68-66-66-67-267

269 - Carl Pettersson 65-67-70-67, Sean O'Hair 67-67-68-67, Harrison Frazar 67-68-67-67, Charles Howell III 67-67-66-69

270 - Michael Thompson 70-65-68-67, Brian Gay 69-69-65-67, D.A. Points 68-69-64-69, Matt Every 66-64-68-72

271 - John Rollins 70-68-69-64, David Hearn 66-66-70-69, Brendon de Jonge 71-62-67-71

272 - Chris DiMarco 70-65-70-67, Brendon Todd 68-68-68-68, Chris Stroud 68-68-67-69, Keegan Bradley 67-67-68-70, Ted Potter, Jr. 68-68-66-70, Jeff Maggert 69-65-64-74

273 - Tadd Fujikawa 69-66-71-67, George McNeill 69-70-66-68, Joe Ogilvie 71-68-66-68, William McGirt 67-67-70-69

274 - Colt Knost 66-71-69-68, Kyle Stanley 66-68-70-70, Will Claxton 66-69-69-70, John Senden 68-67-68-71,Spencer Levin 67-67-68-72, Scott Piercy69-68-65-72

275 - Stewart Cink 70-66-71-68, Jerry Kelly 70-66-70-69, Rory Sabbatini 67-71-68-69, Bud Cauley 66-68-70-71, Kris Blanks 68-66-69-72, Billy Mayfair 68-67-68-72, Graham DeLaet 63-72-68-72, Sang-Moon Bae 68-68-66-73, Duffy Waldorf 69-66-66-74

276 - Webb Simpson 66-72-70-68, Chris Kirk 69-70-68-69, Gavin Coles 69-66-71-70, Josh Teater 69-67-70-70, J.J. Killeen 68-69-69-70, Corey Pavin 70-67-68-71, K.J. Choi 65-73-67-71, Steve Stricker 66-69-67-74

277 - Vijay Singh 71-67-71-68, Bobby Gates 68-68-70-71, Tom Pernice Jr. 69-70-67-71, Daniel Summerhays 69-69-67-72, Jhonattan Vegas 67-71-67-72, Pat Perez 66-67-71-73, Stephen Ames 67-68-67-75

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