AUSTRALIAN Steve Elkington won the $1.8 million Doral-Ryder Open in Miami yesterday when he finished two strokes clear of two other former PGA champions, Larry Nelson and Nick Price.
Elkington shot a sizzling three-under-par 69 final round to finish 13-under par on 275. Nelson had a final round 70, while Price came in on a 72.
David Duval, who was leading by one stroke overnight, struggled to a two-over 74 to finish fourth on 10-under 278 while Greg Norman, who had shared the lead at the half-way stage, faded badly with a 74 to come in in ninth spot six-under on 282.
"After the six-iron went in on number three, I felt that this was going to be my day, I'm going to make it my day," Elkington recalled.
"There was no reason to back off at that point," added Elkington after his seventh career win but first since the 1995 PGA Championship.
In addition to his eagle Elkington also had two bogeys - both caused by bunkers on the 13th and 14th holes - and birdies on the first, ninth and 10th holes.
"I was protecting from the 10th hole onwards. The holes are so hard coming in, it's not realistic to try to set up birdies," Elkington said of the notorious Blue Monster layout.
"I was hitting my irons as well as anyone out there, and so if it was tough for me to get it close, I knew no one else was going to either," he said.
Lee Westwood carded a three-under 69 on the final day to become the first Englishman to win the $300,000 Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. "Patience was the key word today. I kept my cool and I knew without patience it would be difficult to win the championship," said Westwood.
The 23-year-old Westwood posted an excellent four-round total of 14 under 274 to beat American Larry Barber by two strokes. Ireland's Darren. Clarke and Paul McGinley shared 11th place on 283.
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