After the first round of the Sony Open was completely canceled as a result of four inches of rain falling on Waialae Country Club, the PGA Tour had to do some shifting around and institute a “plan B.”

The alternate plan called for 18 holes Friday and 18 Saturday. Then there was a cut, but not the normal 70 and ties that full-field events usually get, but 60 and ties. The top 70 got paid as if they made the cut, but those 10 spots did not get a chance to improve their position.

On Sunday, they played a marathon 36 holes in order to find out that Mark Wilson would prove to be the best iron man on Honolulu.

Wilson is not known for his length off the tee, something that is not really necessary on Waialae. This course favors accuracy and shot placement over bomb it and chase, so Wilson wasn’t alone atop the leaderboard.

Noted bunter and defending Players champion, Tim Clark braved the elements and put on a show, shooting Sunday scores of 66-64. Also, lighting it up Sunday was Steve Marino whose position after the first two rounds had him eying his first win on the PGA Tour. Both Marino and Clark ended up two shots short (no pun intended) of Wilson.

With rounds of 65-67-65-67, Wilson was able to claim his third PGA Tour win. Wilson shot a 5-under 65 in the morning and had a six minute turnaround before he headed back out on the course, time enough for a quick sandwich and run to his locker for some balls.

The win gives him an automatic bid to play at Augusta in April, somewhere Wilson last visited in 2001 as a patron.

“Believe me, I looked at the fine print on that one and made sure,” said Wilson. “I thought it was a calendar year when they first announced it and I was really excited, but no, it was from Masters to Masters so I didn’t get in. When I won Mayakoba all my friends thought I was in, but opposite events don’t get you in.”

“You know, I”m anxious to play. Maybe a little scared about the length, though, from what I’ve heard. Some of the shorter hitters talk about how it’s kind of eliminated them from the field, like I hear Tom Watson talk about it. But I’m going to go in there with — I get goosebumps thinking about it, to be honest with you.”

The win didn’t fall into his lap, though. With Clark in the clubhouse at 14-under, Wilson, paired with Marino played the 18th. Wilson stood at 15-under, while Marino was at 13-under.

Wilson knocked his drive down the center and Marino pulled off one of the shots of the week from a side-hill lie with his feet in the bunker. Here’s the shot.

Marino rolled his eagle putt past the hole and had to settle for birdie. Wilson laid up, pitched to four feet and made a birdie putt to secure his two-stroke lead and punch his ticket to the Masters.

On a sour note, with the marathon Sunday finish and the quick turnaround (again) to get to La Quinta for the Wednesday start of the Bob Hope, at least one of the top players in the Sony has withdrawn. Tim Clark has withdrawn from this week’s Bob Hope, where he finished in second place last year, due to blisters on his feet. Walking 36 holes on a wet course can do a number to you, besides making the bottom of your feet look like you’ve been in the bathtub for 2 hours.