For Toms, Therapy Is Three-Stroke Win

Fighting back pain all weekend, David Toms shot a one-under-par 71 on Sunday to win the PGA Buick Challenge at Pine Mountain, Ga., by three strokes with a 271.

“I had no idea I would win,” said Toms, who won $324,000 and became the sixth multiple-winner on the PGA Tour this year. Toms won the Sprint International in August.

Stuart Appleby birdied two of the final three holes for a 71 that put him in second at 14 under and earned him $194,400.

Toms spent every morning with trainers to receive therapy on his back to combat stiffness.

“They massaged out all the knots,” Toms said. “I owe them a lot.”

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Annika Sorenstam withstood a challenge from Mardi Lunn to shoot a final-round, six-under-par 66 and win the New Albany Golf Classic in New York by three strokes. Sorenstam finished at 19-under 269, winning $150,000. . . . Fred Gibson, who won only $704 on the regular PGA Tour, became the 11th first-time winner on the Senior Tour this season, winning the Vantage Championship at Clemmons, N.C., by three strokes. Gibson shot a six-under 64 for a 15-under 195 total and $225,000. Bruce Fleisher shot a final-round 65 to finish at 12-under 198.

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Spanish teenager Sergio Garcia won the $1.9 million German Masters, defeating Ryder Cup teammate Padraig Harrington with a 10-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a playoff at Cologne. Garcia, who won $312,000, Harrington and 1991 Masters champion Ian Woosnam each finished the final round at 11-under 277. . . . Joe Ozaki won the $1.13-million Japan Open at Otaru, despite firing a six-over 78 for a 10-over 298 total. Ozaki, who won $226,000, defeated Nobumitsu Yuhara and Kazuhiko Hosokawa by two strokes. . . . Casey Martin shot a final-round, even-par 72 to finish tied for 48th at four-under 284 in the Nike Inland Empire Open at Moreno Valley. Brad Elder won with a 267.