Sabbatini gaines first PGA tour win

Rory Sabbatini made a 30-foot birdie putt on the final hole today for a one-stroke victory in the Air Canada Championship.

Sabbatini, 24, a native of South Africa who lives in Tucson, Ariz., closed with a 6-under-par 65 for a 16-under 268 total. He earned $540,000 for his first PGA Tour title.

"I limited the mistakes and kept myself in the game,'' Sabbatini said. "I kept it solid and kept focusing on what I was trying to do. I'm just really happy."

"It's been a year where I've been trying to progress my game It's starting to go in the right direction. Winning makes me feel more confident and more relaxed out there.''

New Zealand's Grant Waite, who started the round with a one-stroke, shot a 69 to finish second. Mark Calcavecchia, the 1997 winner, closed with a 67 to finish third at 270.

Chris Riley birdied five straight holes on the back nine for a 68. He tied for fourth at 271 with Spanish star Sergio Garcia (69), Mike Clark II (63) and Doug Barron (67).

"Unfortunately I didn't play very well on the front nine," said Garcia, who birdied three of his last seven holes.

"I came back strong on the back nine, hit a lot of good shots and had a couple of really good putts. I had a good chance.''

Defending champion Mike Weir of Canada closed with a 73 to finish at 6-under par.

"I'm a little disappointed,'' Weir said. "I thought by the way I was striking on the range, I'd have some good shots, be 5- or 6-under and give myself a chance. I didn't play very well.''

Sabbatini eagled the fourth hole en route to a front-nine 33 on the Northview course. He missed the cut in three of the previous five tournaments.

Clark made a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 18 for his 63.

"I started feeling pretty good about my swing and made putts,'' Clark said. "I started playing attention my line a little bit better on the ball."

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