Shining Armour makes history

By Associated Press, 9/29/2003

Tommy Armour had the lowest 72-hole score in PGA Tour history yesterday, finishing the Texas Open with a 5-under-par 65 to end the tournament at 26-under 254.

Armour broke the record of 256 by Mark Calcavecchia at the par-71 Phoenix Open in 2001.

Armour finished seven strokes ahead of defending champion Loren Roberts and Bob Tway.

"I'm telling you, it was scaring me a little bit," said Armour, who needed only 108 putts over the four days. "Every putt went in the hole."

The victory was worth $630,000, more than double what Armour had earned on Tour this year.

Winless in his previous 366 starts, Armour ended 13 years and eight months of frustration.

"I've always felt like I've underachieved for the talent I have," he said. "I take it serious, but it's not the end-all."

Armour shot a 64 in Thursday's opening round on the La Cantera Golf Club course in the limestone hills north of San Antonio. He followed that with a 62 Friday and a 63 Saturday.

"He's lapping the field here this week," said Roberts, whose 261 matched his winning score here in 2002.

Armour came into the final round with a string of 81 consecutive holes without a bogey, and he added nine more to that total before missing an 8-foot par putt on the 460-yard 10th. He also bogeyed the 18th after hitting his drive into a bunker.

Duffy Waldorf, who began yesterday's round alone in second, was fourth at 262, while Aaron Baddeley shot 263 and Dan Forsman 264.

LPGA -- Annika Sorenstam had back-to-back eagles and shot a final-round 66 at the Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore., to defend her title and win her fifth event of the year. Sorenstam finished at 15-under 201, edging Hall of Famer Beth Daniel by a stroke after starting the day in a three-way tie with Daniel and Cristie Kerr.

"Obviously,it feels wonderful," Sorenstam said. "I love coming down the stretch when it's exciting and hitting great shots when you need to.

"Winning never gets old."

Champions -- Craig Stadler birdied his first four holes en route to a 6-under 66, overtaking Larry Nelson to win the Greater Hickory Classic in Conover, N.C. Stadler finished at 15-under 201 with his stellar final round, while Nelson was two shots back after his 70. Jim Thorpe closed with a 66 for third.

Stadler, who started the day two shots behind Nelson, joined Bruce Lietzke and Tom Watson as the only two-time winners on the Champions Tour this season.

European -- Lee Westwood shot a 5-under 67 (267 total) and won the Dunhill Links Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, by one stroke, withstanding a birdie-birdie finish by Ernie Els. Els had a 64 for 268 and Raphael Jacquelin shot a 69 and was third at 270. Maarten Lafeber (67) and Darren Clarke (70) were at 271.