GOLF PHOENIX OPEN : Armour’s Super Sunday Sends Fans Home Early

Tommy Armour III made it easy on the spectators and tough on his competitors Sunday in a runaway victory in the Phoenix Open.

Armour, grandson of former PGA standout Tommy Armour, got so far in front so fast that hundreds in the gallery started home early.

By the time the leaders made the turn on the TPC at Scottsdale, Armour had a five-shot lead. And, with nine holes to go, Armour’s would-be challengers knew they were beaten.

“From that point on,” veteran Jim Thorpe said, “I just played safe, trying not to lose second place.”

Thorpe finished five strokes back in second at 272 after a closing 68.

Armour, 30, who played internationally in the six-year period he was unable to qualify for his U.S. playing rights, scored his first PGA Tour victory with a 267 total, 17 strokes under par.

He led or shared the lead all the way, finishing with a three-under-par 68 over the final 18 holes. He led by three strokes when the day’s play started, by four after two holes, by five after six and had a minimum five-shot lead over the back nine.

The triumph--only his second in 10 years as a professional--was worth $162,000 from the total purse of $900,000. His only previous professional title was the 1983 Mexican Open.

Fred Couples and Billy Ray Brown were next at 274, seven behind the winner.