GREENSBORO, North Carolina, 21 October 2003 — Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama led throughout the final round here Sunday, firing a five-under par 67 on his way to a five-stroke victory at the $4.5 million PGA Greensboro Classic.
Maruyama teed off with a three-shot lead over American Brad Faxon, who never trimmed the margin below two strokes at Forest Oaks Country Club, which is owned by a Japanese firm, the Nisshin Corporation.
Showing no mercy with his putting prowness, Maruyama sank six birdies to only a single bogey to finish on 22-under 266, a stroke off the tournament record set in 1999 by Sweden’s Jesper Parnevik.
“That’s the best I’ve putted in my life,” Maruyama said. “I’m surprised my golf this week was so good, but putting was the biggest thing.”
Just one month ago, Maruyama was considering taking off the rest of the year to have neck surgery, having struggled much of the year after injuring his neck and right shoulder. “Four weeks ago, I was thinking of going back to Japan and having an operation,” he said. Now Maruayama, 34, has $810,000 and his third victory on the US PGA Tour, jumping to 35th on the US PGA money list.
Two weeks ago, Maruyama’s goal was to finish among the top 125 on the money list. Now the season-ending event for the tour’s top 30 is in his sights.
Faxon, who fired a 69 for second place at 271, was the only player to put any pressure on Maruyama. American Matt Gogel was third, seven strokes adrift.
Maruyama bogeyed the par-five ninth and Faxon was poised to pull within a stroke, but missed a four-foot birdie bid. “If I make the putt, does that make a difference? Maybe, but he still played well on the back nine,” Faxon said. “I never put the pressure on him.”
Maruyama is already the most successful Japanese player ever on the US PGA Tour. He won nine times in Japan before coming to the United States in 2000. Isao Aoki is the only other Japanese player to win a US PGA title, claiming the 1983 Hawaiian Open.
Maruyama also is the only non-US golfer among four players to win on the US PGA Tour each of the past three years, joining Tiger Woods, US Open champion Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard.
Faxon, a runner-up for the third time this year, ranks 11th on the money list.
“Obviously, you want to win, but if you’re finishing second, you’re doing pretty good out here,” he said.
