Golf: Furyk's year full of firsts

GRAND BLANC - Jim Furyk's year just got better.

Holding off Tiger Woods, Furyk shot a 4-under-par 68 to win the Buick Open in Michigan by two strokes. The victory gives the 2003 US Open champion two titles in a year for the first time.

Furyk had won one tournament in each of the previous five seasons.

"It's definitely my best year," he said.

Woods carded a 66 in the final round to finish at 19 under, tying for second place with fellow Americans Chris DiMarco and Briny Baird and Australian Geoff Ogilvy.

It was Woods' final tuneup before the PGA Championship in two weeks, which will be his last chance this season to win a major.

One of Woods' errant shots hit a fan, who needed three stitches to close a cut on his head.

Craig Perks was the best of the New Zealand trio, finishing in joint 32nd with a final round of 72.

Grant Waite was tied for 50th and Steve Alker tied for 70th. Both also shot final even-par rounds of 72.

Furyk's last four tour victories have come at tournaments where Woods was the defending champion.

Furyk played mistake-free golf other than a three-putt bogey from 26 feet on the 11th and missing a 3ft putt for birdie at the par-5 16th. He birdied the round's first two holes to extend the one-stroke lead he began the day with.

When other players mounted challenges on the back nine, Furyk kept them at bay with birdies at 13 and 14.

"Every time I made a mistake, like I did on 11 and 16, I came right back and hit good golf shots to put it away," Furyk said. "I'm proud of that."

The last time he led after 54 holes was at the US Open, where he won his first major title and finished with a final score of 272, tying the tournament record held by Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Lee Janzen.

Furyk's 68-66-65-68 performance this week proved that missing the cut at the British Open two weeks ago was not a source of concern for his game, which features an unorthodox swing.

Woods said of his own game: "I really didn't make anything all day and I still shot 66."

His approach shot at the seventh bounced off the head of John Yates, a fan in the packed gallery, and landed in the greenside bunker. Yates was lying on his back and his head was bleeding when Woods came over to say sorry and shook his hand.

After Woods birdied the hole, he gave Yates the ball and an autographed glove.

* In Sweden, Australian Adam Scott claimed his fourth European Tour title with a two-shot victory at the Scandinavian Masters to bounce back into the race for an automatic Presidents Cup place.

Although he was briefly caught in the final round, the 23-year-old from Adelaide birdied four of the last seven holes for a three-under-par 69, taking the $633,800 first prize with a total of 11-under 277.

Michael Campbell was the best of the New Zealanders, finishing equal 12th after a final-round 71.

Stephen Scahill fired a 70 for 290. Greg Turner was two shots further back.

- AGENCIES