Petrovic wins Zurich Classic in playoff

By MARY FOSTERAP Sports Writer

Tim Petrovic leads a New Orleans Jazz Band after winning the Zurich Classic golf tournament in Avondale, La. Sunday, Petrovic won $990,000 in his first PGA Tour victory. (AP Photo/Andrew J. Cohoon)

AVONDALE, La. — Tim Petrovic looked back a dozen years after completing an improbable journey from pizza deliveryman to PGA Tour winner.

Back in 1993, the odds of Petrovic winning a tour title were slim.

‘‘I think I played 11 or 12 events and ran out of money on the Nike Tour,’’ Petrovic said. ‘‘I had a sponsor pull out on me, I had no money, I ended up just going to work. I worked for the YMCA and then I went to work making pizzas for about five years. That’s washing floors and washing dishes, that’s not just making pizzas.’’

On Sunday, the 38-year-old Petrovic won the Zurich Classic, beating rookie James Driscoll with a 4-foot par putt on the first hole of a playoff.

‘‘This is my first win since never, my first win ever,’’ Petrovic said. ‘‘I think I won — I think, was it ’01? It was ’01 or 2000. Let’s see, ’01 I won four times on the Golden Bear Tour.’’

It took Petrovic 23 holes Sunday to grab the $990,000 winner’s check. He finished the last four holes of the third round in the morning, shooting a 6-under 66, played the final round in 68 to match Driscoll at 13-under 275, then won the playoff.

The former University of Hartford player set up the breakthrough victory with a 19-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation, then finished off Driscoll with a routine par on the par-5 closing hole on the year-old TPC of Louisiana.

‘‘I was proud of myself because I was able to clear my head and step up and just hit it,’’ Petrovic said. ‘‘I didn’t think about anything. I said, ‘Just hit it. You’ve made a million of these on the practice green. This one is a little harder, but it’s still a putt, just go out and hit it.’’’

Driscoll, playing in the final group with Masters runner-up Chris DiMarco, had a 70. He missed a 4-foot birdie try for the victory on No. 18.

‘‘It’s too bad,’’ said Driscoll, the 2000 U.S. Amateur runner-up. ‘‘I missed putts on the 18th hole back to back in the playoff and in regulation.’’

DiMarco, the third-round leader, bogeyed No. 18 to finish a stroke back along with Lucas Glover. DiMarco, playing his first event since losing to Tiger Woods in a playoff at Augusta National, shot a 72. DiMarco shot a 39 on the back nine.

Glover had a 69.

Petrovic said he’d have lots of time to savor his victory. He just bought an RV to travel in and had a 12-hour drive to Charlotte for the Wachovia Championship.