Golf: American Funk seals players' title

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida - American Fred Funk overcame difficult, windy conditions to become the oldest winner of the prestigious Players' Championship golf tournament with a one-shot victory at the TPC at Sawgrass today.


The 48-year-old, four strokes off the pace going into the rain-delayed final round, fired a one-under-par 71 to clinch the seventh PGA Tour title of his career.


Ponte Vedra resident Funk mixed five birdies with four bogeys on a windy day at the Stadium Course to finish at nine-under 279, a stroke ahead of compatriots Tom Lehman (68), Scott Verplank (70) and Briton Luke Donald (76).


"I'm speechless right now," Funk said after winning golf's unofficial fifth major.


"It was a tough day out there with the wind and the conditions but I was always in control of my swing.


"I can't believe I won this thing. It was such a hard day and this is the strongest field we have. I'm overwhelmed.


"I was thinking as I three-putted my way round the back nine, I never do anything easy," added Funk, who bogeyed three of the last five holes.


"It's been a long, long week."


Donald, bidding to become the second European winner at Sawgrass after Sandy Lyle in 1987, had the title in his sights after a 70 in gusting winds of up to 60km/h put him one shot clear when the delayed third round of the rain-hit tournament was finally completed earlier in the day.


The 27-year-old Englishman, co-leader overnight with American Joe Durant at 11 under, held his nerve after double-bogeying the par-four 14th to stay ahead of the chasing pack as the conditions became tougher.


However, the Ryder Cup player bogeyed the opening hole in the final round and an outward nine of 40 effectively ended his bid to add a second PGA Tour title to his Southern Farm Bureau Classic triumph in 2002.


Australia's Adam Scott, who at 23 became the youngest winner of the Players' Championship with a one-shot victory last year, returned successive 73s to end up in a tie for eighth at five-under 283.


None of golf's so-called "Fab Four" flourished on the fifth day, world No 1 Vijay Singh producing the best finish with a final-round 72 and a share of 12th at four-under 284.


South Africa's Ernie Els carded a 69, his best round of the week, for a 72-hole total of three-under 285 while US Masters champion Phil Mickelson battled to a 75 for a share of 40th at two over.


Tiger Woods, the 2001 Players' champion, finished a further three strokes back after returning a second successive 75.Leading scores after the final round of the Players' Championship at Sawgrass (US unless stated):

279: Fred Funk 65 72 71 71

280: Tom Lehman 71 69 72 68, Scott Verplank 71 67 72 70, Luke Donald (Britain) 66 68 70 76

281: Joe Durant 69 65 71 76

282: Steve Elkington (Australia) 72 66 71 73, Tim Herron 68 66 72 76

283: JL Lewis 66 77 70 70, Davis Love III 72 66 74 71, Adam Scott (Australia) 69 68 73 73, Zach Johnson 65 70 72 76

284: Vijay Singh (Fiji) 67 74 71 72, Mark Calcavecchia 71 70 72 71, Alex Cejka (Germany) 70 70 70 74, Retief Goosen (South Africa) 69 70 69 76, Steve Lowery 69 74 72 69

285: Joey Sindelar 70 71 70 74, Bob Estes 67 73 73 72, Ernie Els 71 71 74 69, Mike Weir (Canada) 74 68 69 74, Kirk Triplett 70 66 76 73

286: Lee Westwood (Britain) 65 69 80 72, John Senden (Australia) 74 69 70 73

287: Nick O'Hern (Australia) 76 65 72 74, Brett Quigley 67 73 78 69, Jay Haas 69 69 72 77

- REUTERS