Golf Roundup : Norman Wins the Australian Masters by Nine Strokes

Greg Norman shot a three-under-par 70 Sunday to win the $200,000 Australian Masters by a whopping nine strokes at Melbourne, Australia.

The Florida-based Australian had rounds of 68, 67, 68, and 70 en route to a 19-under-par 273.

Norman, who earned $35,640 plus a $66,000 appearance fee, won the event for a record fourth time, smashing the tournament record of 281 set by Bernhard Langer of West Germany in 1985.

“This is a tremendous feeling,” said Norman, who won five of the seven Australian Tour events he entered this season. “My caddy told me this was as good as he had seen me play over four days.

“My concentration over the first 12 holes was phenomenal. That’s what sealed it. I love to push myself and get the best out of myself.”

Peter Senior of Australia had a final-round 71 for second place at 282, one shot ahead of Vaughan Somers, also of Australia, who shot 73 for a 283 total.

Scott Hoch of the United States finished fourth with a final-round 70 and a total of 284.

Chi Chi Rodriguez, who predicted he would catch Dale Douglass in the final round of the PGA Seniors Championship, shot a five-under-par 67 to beat Douglass by one stroke at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Rodriguez, the first- and second-round leader, ballooned to a 76 in the third round to fall six shots behind Douglass. But in the final round over the 6,550-yard Champion course at PGA National, Douglass struggled to a 74.

Douglass had a chance to force a playoff, but he missed a 30-foot putt on the final hole.

Rodriguez ended up at six-under-par 282 for his fourth victory since joining the Senior PGA Tour 15 months ago. The $47,000 check was the largest Rodriguez has earned in 27 years as a professional.

Douglass was second at 283, with Bobby Nichols (72) and Bob Charles (71) tied for third at 286.