South Africa's Ernie Els carded a record-breaking 31-under-par 261 to win the Mercedes Championship at the Plantation Course in Hawaii by eight strokes yesterday and beat the PGA Tour previous low scoring mark by two shots.
Els closed with a six-under-par 67 to go with earlier rounds of 64, 65, 65 to secure one of the most dashing triumphs of his distinguished career.
The victory sounded an early warning for 2003 to Tiger Woods, who is still recovering from knee surgery.
Eight shots back and tied for second place were Rocco Mediate, who fired a final-round 10-under 63, and South Korean KJ Choi, who could only manage an even-par 73 after shooting a course record 62 on Saturday.
Els also won his previous tournament, the Sun City Challenge in December, by eight shots.
Fiji's Vijay Singh and South Africa's Retief Goosen finished nine strokes behind Els in a tie for fourth place.
Playing with new equipment and a renewed vitality, Els methodically took apart a course and a field here that proved defenceless.
With drives that went over 350 yards or putts that fell from all angles, Els sent a message to the rest of the golfing world that at 33 years of age he is going to be a force in 2003.
"I felt in control of my golf swing; I was putting well," Els said of this week.
"When you feel those kind of things in your game, it makes you feel comfortable. You don't get overanxious."