GOLF : Mize, a Late Fill-In for Norman, Wins by 10 Shots in Jamaica

Had this been match play, Larry Mize would have won nine holes earlier.

Mize was 10-up on the field with nine holes to play Sunday and breezed to 10-stroke victory over Fred Couples in the $2.7-million Johnnie Walker Championship.

Now he has a problem: how to compose a thank-you note to Greg Norman for a $550,000 Christmas present.

“It’s a nice problem to have,” Mize said after collecting that prize money. “I’ll think of something.”

Mize got into the 28-player field only two weeks ago when Norman, the British Open champion, withdrew from the last of 372 pro events around the world this year.

Given entry into the tournament, Mize opened a three-shot lead through 54 holes with rounds of 67, 66, 68 on the Tryall Club course.

Then he simply ran away over the final 18 holes. He played them without a bogey and without a “five” on his card.

“That’s as good as I’ve ever played. The other guys will kill me if I don’t say that. I won’t soon forget this round today,” Mize said after his six-under-par 65 produced a 266 total and a final round that was devoted to a race for second.

Couples, the defending champion, shot a 64 with nine birdies and won $300,000.