GOLF ROUNDUP : Olazabal Wins World Series by 12 Strokes

It was no contest; a rout all the way.

The last lingering doubt that Jose Maria Olazabal would win the World Series of Golf was dispelled when he started with consecutive birdies in Sunday’s final round at Akron, Ohio.

“I was 12 ahead with 16 holes to go,” the 24-year-old Spaniard said. “I never had that kind of a lead before. I didn’t know what to do.”

He handled it very nicely, going on to a 12-shot victory, the largest victory margin in 15 years on the American pro tour.

“Go on home. Get the hell out of here,” a laughing Lanny Wadkins said after congratulating Olazabal on his first PGA Tour victory.

After going 12 in front on the second hole, Olazabal turned the last round into a victory lap over the Firestone Country Club that he dominated as no one ever had, as few would have thought possible.

“I never thought I’d see 18-under at Firestone,” said Wadkins, who had the previous record at 13-under. “I didn’t think I’d live to see 13-under broken, let alone finish second to it.”

For the other 46 players in the international field of winners only, it was an exercise in frustration, with more than a trace of humiliation thrown in.

Olazabal led all the way and set a flock of course and tournament records. But that doesn’t begin to describe his domination.

“The most amazing thing is that there were only three guys within 18 strokes,” Wadkins said.

Olazabal, now unquestioned as the outstanding young player in the world, won with rounds of 61, 67, 67 and 67 on a 7,149 yard, par-70 course with the reputation and respect of the touring pros as one of the most difficult they encounter all season.

Olazabal, playing Firestone for the first time, simply took it apart. He opened the tournament with a birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie burst in the first round, and had a legitimate shot at breaking 60.

He set course and tournament records for 18 holes (61), 36 holes (128), 54 holes (195) and 72 holes (262). His 36, 54 and 72-hole scores also were the best on the PGA Tour this year.

While Olazabal was smiling and waving to galleries that gave him standing ovations on every back-nine green, Firestone was exerting its more customary pressure on the rest of the field.

Wadkins, Hale Irwin and Donnie Hammond were the only others under par for the tournament. Wadkins, with a 66, took second at 274.

U.S. Open champ Hale Irwin shot a 74 and was third at 277. Hammond was 71-279.

No one else was within 18 strokes of the runaway winner. Some examples: Greg Norman was 19 behind at 281, Tom Kite 20 back 282 and PGA title-holder Wayne Grady was 29 behind at 291.

And then there was John Huston, a winner in Florida earlier this year. He finished 45 strokes behind the winner.

Olazabal, who won $198,000, is now in his fifth season as a touring pro. He has played most of his golf on the European tour. He has eight European victories.

Beth Daniel shot four-under-par 68 to win the Northgate LPGA tournament by six strokes, the third victory in the past four tournaments for the LPGA’s leading money winner this season.

Daniel, who shot 66 and 69 in earlier rounds, finished at 13-under 203 for 54 holes over the 6,149-yard Edinburgh USA course in Brooklyn Park, Minn., and won $56,250.

Penny Hammel, who shot 69 Sunday, and Chris Johnson, with a 68, tied for second at 209.