Perry under no pressure

US Tour: American Kenny Perry cruised to a seven-shot victory at the Colonial tournament on Sunday, capturing his second title in three years at Hogan's Alley with a record equalling total of 19-under-par 261.

With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit in Fort Worth, Texas, Perry closed with a one-under 69 at the Colonial Country Club to finish well clear of compatriot Billy Mayfair, who also carded a 69.

It was a masterful display by the 40-year-old Perry, who had just one bogey on his scorecard all week until a double-bogey six at the 17th in the final round prevented him from lowering the 72-hole record he set when first winning the title in 2003.

Perry's 72-hole aggregate and his seven-stroke winning margin were the best on the PGA Tour this season.

Perry, who clinched the Bay Hill Invitational earlier this year, joined Vijay Singh, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as the only multiple winners on the 2005 PGA Tour and lifted his career earnings above $18 million.

The Kentucky resident, who saw a doctor yesterday to have a vision problem corrected, went into the final round with a seven-shot cushion that was never challenged. Americans Joe Durant and David Toms returned 66s to tie for third with Australia's Peter Lonard (69) on 11-under 269.

Neither Tiger Woods nor Vijay Singh played, but that did not prevent another reshuffling at the top of the official world rankings with Fijian Singh reclaiming the number one spot.

The pair have tussled for the top spot all season, each having enjoyed two spells as the game's leading player.

Nine-times major winner Woods has been in pole position since winning his fourth Masters crown last month but Singh won the Wachovia Championship two weeks ago and trailed Woods by just 0.08 average world ranking points going into the Colonial.

Woods had gone 142 successive weeks at the top without missing a cut, before his impressive run came to an end at Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas.

US PGA champion Singh decided to skip the Colonial after winning two of the last four PGA Tour events and tying for third at the Byron Nelson last week.

Leading totals (US unless stated): 261: K Perry 65, 63, 64, 69; 268: B Mayfair 67, 66, 66, 69; 269: P Lonard (Aus) 69, 66, 65, 69; D Toms 69, 66, 68, 66; J Durant 71, 63, 69, 66; 270: S Hend (Aus) 68, 67, 68, 67; R Sabbatini (Rsa) 67, 69, 68, 66; T Petrovic 71, 69, 66, 64; B Langer (Ger) 68, 69, 66, 67; R Pampling (Aus) 66, 67, 68, 69; A Baddeley (Aus) 69, 66, 67, 68; B Jobe 65, 69, 67, 69.