Rory Sabbatini hits out of the bunker on the first hole during the third round of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Eric P. Mull - USPRESSWIRE

When it comes to Tiger Woods, Rory Sabbatini has let his mouth get him in hot water in the past.  On Sunday, the former Arizona Wildcat let his driver and putter land him in trouble…and second place to Woods.

Woods capped off his come-from-behind surge with a remarkable 50-foot shot in 16 to win for the 73 time on the PGA Tour — tied now with Jack Nicklaus, who founded the Memorial Tournament at (Nicklaus-designed) Muirfield Village Gold Club 36 years ago.

Sabbatini once again played the foil to Woods. In 2007, the South African fueled controversy by claiming Woods was “as beatable as ever.”

Sabbatini was in control for much of the day, and most of the weekend for that matter.

But he seemed to unravel on the 15th hole as Woods was beginning his late charge. Sabbatini missed a putt on 15, then plunked his next drive into a bunker.

The resulting bogey tied him with Woods, who eventually stormed to the win with birdies on three of his final four holes. Sabbatini finished two behind Woods, tied with Argentinian Andres Romero for second.

Sabbatini could have used the win. He’s won five times on the Tour, but is winless since claiming the HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2009. He has only one top-10 and three top-25 finishes in 16 tournaments this season.

His highest placing on this season’s stats board is 31st place for putts per round with 28.6 putts.

Sabbatini joked on Saturday that tournament officials would erect a statue of him after leading the field for two straight days. He then made some comments that proved rather prophetic:

“If you hit a bad shot and go and get it up-and-down, that’s a help you. That’s as fine as the line gets. It’s ultimately — there’s going to be guys that are going to hit shots that are going to get upset, they’re going to go and focus on the next one. If you can let it go and be able to focus on the next shot and still not be thinking of the previous one or shots before or whatever, it’s not going to hinder you. But if you’re still stuck on two shots before, yeah, it’s definitely going to hinder.”

- Rory Sabbatini, via PGA Tour Media

A once-proud University of Arizona sports program served notice this weekend that it might be back on the national radar.

We’re talking, of course, about the alumni of the Wildcat golf team.

Rory Sabbatini of South Africa celebrates after winning The Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa on March 6, 2011 in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

Former UA golfer Rory Sabbatini held off a late-surge from Y.E. Yang on Sunday in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to hold on for a one-stroke win at the Honda Classic.

The Durban, South Africa-native shot a 9-under-par, 271 to claim the sixth PGA Tour win of his career and an automatic birth into this year’s Master’s.

Sabbatini set a course record on Friday with a commanding 64-shot effort.

His five-stroke lead entering Sunday all but vanished, however, as Yang mounted a comeback. Sabbatini needed a clutch birdie on the 16th to essentially save the tournament and its $1 million winning share.

It was his first Tour win since claiming the HP Byron Nelson Championship in 2009.

Ricky Barnes seems to be finding his stroke. The former Wildcat — who earned his first-career Tour win in 2010 — finished fourth at the Honda Classic, five strokes behind Sabbatini.

The 25 year old appears to have shaken off the back injuries that have plagued him to begin the year and reduced him to just one other start this season.

Barnes finished 72nd at the Northwest Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, Calif.

Said Barnes via Twitter on Sunday:

“2nd week back and a 4th place finish. Good to be back. See you all next in Tampa!! Ricky”

The win for Sabbatini is another in a recent string of successes for the Wildcat alums. Ex-Cat Jim Furyk is coming off a season in which he claimed the PGA Tour Player of the Year honors.

Furyk did not compete in this week’s event.

Where Furyk is reserved and calculating on the course and in the public’s eye, Sabbatini has built a reputation as a risk taker with his club and mouth.

But all that might have changed for the golfer who not only once proclaimed Tiger Woods to be “more beatable than ever,” but is the only player in the history of Woods’ Target World Challenge tournament to withdraw from the off-season event.

But perhaps all that is behind him. His play at the Honda Classic seems to suggest it could be.

Fatherhood certainly could also be a factor in his maturation process.

Said Sabbatini after claiming the tourney hardware on Sunday:

“I’m a passionate golfer, I really am. I love the game of golf and I’ve had my moments.

“I’m not proud of everything I’ve done out here, but I’m trying to learn. I’m trying to be a role model for my children and I know as my wife has said to me, I wouldn’t want my son doing some of the things that I’ve done in the past.

“So I definitely have to take into account that my son is old enough now that he understands everything that I do, and really try and be a role model for him.”

Via PGATOUR.COM