Maruyama coasts to five shot victory

Shigeki Maruyama joined some elite company with his victory at the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro.

Maruyama became the fourth player on the PGA Tour to win at least one Tournament each of the last three seasons with his final-round 67 Sunday, beating Brad Faxon by five shots.

The three other players are Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard.

"I'm really happy to be one of those players, to be listed with the big names," Maruyama said. "This big win gives me a lot of confidence.

"I wasn't expecting this kind of golf this week," added Maruyama, who has battled neck and shoulder injuries most of the season. "My putting was the big thing. This was the best putting of my whole life."

The average of 25.30 putts per round was the best of Maruyama's career.

Maruyama's victory earned him 100 points in the Fall Finish presented by PricewaterhouseCoopers, moving him into fourth place. He also earned an invitation to the season-opening 2004 Mercedes Championship.

The 5-foot-7 Japanese golfer started the day at 17 under and leading Faxon by three. No other player was within six shots of the leader, and it remained a two-man race at Forest Oaks Country Club.

Maruyama was solid all day, and closed out playing partner Faxon with an up-and-down birdie from the sand on the par-5, 15th hole, grabbing a four-stroke lead with four holes left.

Maruyama, who was 5 under Sunday, also had rounds of 65, 64 and 70 for a 22 under total, coming within one shot of the Tournament record of 265, set by Jesper Parnevik in 1999.

"That's some low scoring," Faxon said. "That's some pretty good golf. It's not just going to happen. You've got to hit good shots and you've make a lot of putts, and he made a lot of putts."

When Maruyama sank his final 3-foot putt on the 18th, he pumped his fist and threw his hands in the air, then hugged his caddie.

The win moves Maruyama from 76th to 35th on the money list. The top 30 make the lucrative season-ending Tour Championship presented by Coca-Cola.

"A couple of weeks ago I was just trying to get to 125th on the money list," he said. "After this win, I can see the Tour Championship. That would be a big chance.".

Meanwhile, Faxon shot a 69 and has gone 73 Tournaments since winning the 2001 Sony Open. This was his fifth runner-up finish in that time frame.

"When you finish second, yeah it's frustrating and you can think about a million things, but I played good golf this week and he played great golf," Faxon said.

Matt Gogel, who made just 13 of 25 cuts this season, was third after a 68. His 15 under total was two behind Faxon and his best finish in 2003 in his final Tournament of the year.

Maruyama, who came into the Tournament 130th in putting average but was first this week on the newly redesigned Forest Oaks greens, rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on the first hole to get off to a positive start.

His great putting week continued on the opening holes as Maruyama needed just seven putts in his first six holes to maintain his three-shot lead over Faxon.

Faxon could have pulled within one at the turn as Maruyama bogeyed the ninth hole after a poor approach shot, but his 5-foot birdie attempt lipped out.

"Does that change the whole scope of things if I make that?" Faxon said. "I don't know. Maybe it wasn't in the cards."

Faxon prevented a two-stroke swing two holes later when his chip from a difficult position behind the green came within two inches of going in the hole for a par. Maruyama then converted his 3-foot birdie putt to push his lead back to three.

But all hope faded for Faxon on the 15th as he failed to hit the par-5 in two and Maruyama made his up-and-down for birdie.

Maruyama's other career wins came at the 2001 Greater Milwaukee Open and last year's Byron Nelson Classic.

It was the fifth straight year that the 54-hole leader has won this event

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