IRVING, Texas, 17 May 2005 — Ted Purdy won the first title of his US PGA career, firing a five-under par 65 here Sunday to win the Byron Nelson Championship and deny Vijay Singh a return to the world No. 1 ranking.

Purdy, who began the week 116th on this year’s US PGA money list and 173rd in the rankings, finished 72 holes on 15 under-par 265 to defeat fellow American Sean O’Hair by one stroke at the $5.8 million event.

“It feels great,” Purdy said. “It hasn’t sunk in it. I played flawless. I won on the PGA Tour. This was my dream my whole life. I’ve been all over the world playing. This is the pinnacle.”

Fiji’s Singh, needing a solo third-place effort or better to overtake Tiger Woods and reclaim the top ranking spot, settled for a share of third with Americans Bob Tway and Doug Barron on 269.

Singh bounced in the event’s first ace in three years on the par-3 17th, his first hole in one in since the 1996 PGA Championship, on his way to a final-round 65.

Purdy’s best prior finish was second at the 2004 Heritage Classic, losing a five-hole playoff to Stewart Cink, and last year’s B.C. Open, where he missed a three-foot birdie putt on the last hole to lose by a shot.

Purdy, 31, birdied the third hole to begin a run of four birdies in nine holes, all on par-4s. He added a birdie at the par-5 16th hole to grab a three-stroke edge and finished with a pair of pars to all-but seal victory.

US PGA newcomer O’Hair, the tour’s second-youngest player at age 22, began the round with a one-stroke lead but offset his two birdies on the front nine with two bogeys before the turn as well.

O’Hair, 324th in the world rankings, followed a birdie at the 13th with a bogey at 14 as Purdy pulled away. O’Hair birdied the 16th but missed a 25-foot birdie bid at the 16th.

When O’Hair’s pitching-wedge effort for eagle from the 18th fairway landed 15 feet to the right of the hole, Purdy’s triumph was secured, making him the fifth first-time winner on the US PGA Tour this season.

O’Hair sank the putt, completing a final round 68 and trimming Purdy’s final margin to one stroke.

Sorenstam Runs Away With Chick-Fil-A

In Atalanta, Georgia, Annika Sorenstam fired a five-under-par 67 on Sunday to polish off a 10-stroke victory at the LPGA’s $1.6 million Chick-fil-A Charity Championship.

Sorenstam, who started the day with a 10-shot lead, posted a 72-hole total of 23-under 265 to claim her 60th victory on the US LPGA tour.

She joined Patty Berg for third all-time in LPGA tour wins and claimed her fourth victory in five starts this year.

“It feels wonderful,” the Swedish superstar said. “It has been a great week in so many ways.”

Sorenstam bounced back with a vengeance after seeing her record-tying streak of five consecutive victories snapped last week at Williamsburg, Virginia.

Sorenstam obliterated the field with three bogey-free rounds, including her final 18.

She had two birdies on the front nine, including on her first hole. She closed out the victory with three birdies in her final six holes, including one at the par-five 18th that insured she kept her 10-shot edge after Taiwan’s Candie Kung had fired a 65 for 13-under 275.

American Cristie Kerr, who won last week to break Sorenstam’s streak, also carded a 65 and finished third at 276.