Gamez Ends His Drought

Robert Gamez figured he needed a fast start in the final round of the Texas Open to end the longest stretch between victories in PGA Tour history.

He got the start and the result he was looking for.

Gamez opened with three birdies and had three more on the back nine Sunday, closing with a six-under-par 64 for a three-stroke victory at San Antonio and his first win on tour in 15 1/2 years.

“It has been a long time, a long time coming,” Gamez said. “I knew it would happen. I just didn’t know when.”

The 37-year-old Gamez had gone 394 events without winning, dating to the 1990 Bay Hill Invitational, a stretch of 15 years 6 months. He recently surpassed Butch Baird’s record of 15 years, 5 months 10 days between wins. Ed Fiori went 409 events without winning.

Gamez reached 18-under 262 at LaCantera Golf Club’s Resort Course. Olin Browne, a winner two weeks ago at the Deutsche Bank Championship, also shot a 64 and finished at 15 under. Mark Wilson (68) and third-round leader Woody Austin (69) tied for third at 14 under. J.J. Henry (68) and Bob Heintz (68) shared fifth at 13 under.

Browne tied Gamez for the lead on the 518-yard, par-five 14th when he rolled in a six-foot putt for birdie.

Gamez, playing four holes behind Browne, regained the lead on the downwind, 427-yard 11th hole by rolling in an 11-foot birdie putt. He had birdies at Nos. 13 and 14.

The victory was worth $630,000 for Gamez, who won the Tucson Open and Nestle Invitational in 1990 and has had eight second-place finishes since.

*

Colin Montgomerie’s Britain and Ireland team registered the biggest win in the Seve Cup, defeating Continental Europe, 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 , at Billingham, England.

Despite losing his opening singles, 2 and 1, to rival captain Jose Maria Olazabal, Montgomerie’s team won the singles, 7-3, after losing the opening-day fourballs, 4-1.

Paul Casey and David Howell, who won three of their four matches this week, each had a singles win.

Casey beat Niklas Fasth, 4 and 3, and Howell scored the first point by routing Thomas Bjorn, 6 and 5.