Mayfair Wins Buick Open Title

It didn't take long for Billy Mayfair to know it was going to be his day.

Mayfair took the lead with a scrambling birdie on the par-5 opening hole, chipped in for another birdie at No. 2 and then led the rest of the way for a two-stroke victory over Scott Verplank at the Buick Open on Sunday.

Mayfair, who started the final round tied for the lead with Steve Stricker, pulled away from the field as he closed with a 5-under-par 67 for a 17-under 271 at rain-softened Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club.

"Obviously, this was way past my expectations," said Mayfair, whose last start ended in a tie for 52nd at the Open Championship. "It's a crazy game we play."

At the first hole, Mayfair hooked his drive for a nasty lie in a fairway bunker, punched out and then put his third shot within 30 feet. He made the birdie for a one-stroke lead over Stricker, his playing partner, and led the rest of the way.

But he really knew things were going his way when he ran in a 40-yard chip shot from behind the green at No. 2 for another birdie.

"That chip on No. 2 was a trigger," Mayfair said. "I thought, `Well, maybe it's really my week."'

In a bogey-free round, Mayfair shot 33 on the front side to turn at 15 under, and birdies at 12 and 14 got him to 17 under. Clearly, nobody was going to catch him -- and Mayfair certainly wasn't backing up.

It was the fifth PGA Tour win for Mayfair and made him the fourth multiple winner this season, joining David Duval, Fred Couples and Mark O'Meara.

"Once I got through No. 10, I felt pretty good, even though I expected Steve to make a run at me," said Mayfair, who beat Tiger Woods in a playoff at the Nissan Open in March. "I knew there were some birdie holes still out there."

Verplank, whose only PGA Tour win as a professional came at the 1988 Buick Open, shot a 64 for 273.

Andrew Magee, who was third at the Bob Hope in January and second at the Memorial in May, also had a 64, but it left him one behind Verplank at 274.

Woods, using Warwick Hills as a warmup for the PGA Championship at Redmond, Wash. next week, made a charge by reeling off four straight birdies starting at No. 12.

But Woods had to settle for a 68 for 275, tied with former Warwick Hills pro Eric Booker, a Nike Tour regular who got into the tournament on a sponsor's exemption and closed with a 66.

"I'm hitting the ball really solid right now," said Woods, who hasn't played since a tie for third at the Open. "I just didn't have great speed on my touch shots, but that's what you expect when you've taken a few weeks off."

"I accomplished what I wanted this weekend. I wish I had won, but all the parts of my game are really starting to fall into place, so I'm glad I played."

Stricker, with an even-par 72, tied Joey Sindelar, who had a 64, at 276.

Mayfair's victory was worth $324,000 from a $1.8 million purse.

Verplank, who lost in a playoff to Trevor Dodds at Greensboro on April 26, drew a huge roar from the raucous crowd in the trees ringing the par-3 17th when he chipped in for birdie to reach 15 under. Still, that only matched Mayfair, who was just making the turn.

Defending champion Vijay Singh and second-round leader Brandel Chamblee both shot a 72 for 277.

Divots

• Fuzzy Zoeller, who was 4-under after two rounds, finished 77-77 for a 6-over 294.
• Jeff Gallagher shot 66 for 277 to earn only his second top-10 finish of the year. His best in 20 previous starts had been a tie for sixth at the Nissan.
• 64 equals the best finishing round ever shot in the Buick Open. The record was set by John Fought in 1980 and matched by Doug Tewell in 1988. But three players -- Verplank, Magee and Sindelar matched it Sunday. Sindelar had a chance to break the mark, but missed a 6-foot putt on the final hole.

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