Worldwide Golf

Brian Gay stormed to a record-breaking ten-stroke victory at the Verizon Heritage to win the second PGA TOUR title of his career.

Gay began the day with a three-stroke lead over the field and romped home with a 7-under 64 to set a new tournament record finish of 20-under-par.

“Just another unbelievable day,” gushed Gay, “I got off to a great start with a birdie then the eagle on 2 kind of propelled me forward. I just told myself to keep my head down, keep plugging along. I didn’t watch any boards. I didn’t look at anything, just kept playing, trying to make birdies.”

The previous record was held by Loren Roberts whose four round total of 19-under 265 had stood since his victory in 1996, but Gay eclipsed it with a sumptuous final round blitz.

England’s Luke Donald finished alongside American Briny Baird in second place on 10-under with Lee Janzen and Todd Hamilton a shot further back in fourth place. Spain’s Jose Maria Olazábal closed with a 4-under 68 to finish in a tie for sixth place.

With his victory Gay earned a spot in next year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta – an event that had eluded him for his entire professional career so far. “I’ve had a lot of heartache not getting in that tournament - winning (and) not getting in, and missing by one spot on the money list two times,” he said referring to his victory at the Mayakoba Classic in 2008. “I just figured, who cares? What’s going to happen is going to happen, just go play golf.”