Gay books last-second tee time for U.S. Open

Brian Gay thought so little of his chance to play his way into the U.S. Open in his last opportunity that he had plans for a week off. Not even a tentative plan sketched out just in case.

Well, he better figure something out pretty quick. His wire-to-wire victory Sunday at the St. Jude Classic in Memphis, Tenn., punched his ticket to Bethpage Black.

"Right now I don't know if we're going home first or what we're going to do, whether we spend tomorrow traveling, going home and repacking," Gay said. "Get to work on Tuesday I guess."

Gay came to Memphis as one of seven players with a chance to grab the Open exemption as a multiple winner in the last calendar year. He responded with his second win in his last five events and the third victory of his career, beating David Toms and Bryce Molder by five strokes.

"I felt I had to go out and play golf. If I won, I'd get the chance to play," Gay said.

He grabbed the $1,008,000 winner's check at TPC Southwind in runaway style, too.

Gay led by only a stroke after each of the first three rounds, then shot his third straight 4-under 66 to pull away. He birdied three of the first six holes to take all the suspense out of the final round, and birdied the 18th to finish at 18-under 262.

Toms finished with a 65, and Molder had a 70. John Senden (64), Paul Goydos (68) and Robert Allenby (69) tied for fourth at 12 under.

It wasn't as large a victory as in April when Gay won by 10 at Hilton Head. It just felt like that on a day where no one could get close enough on wet fairways that stopped balls with almost no roll.

Gay needed only 100 putts to become the fourth wire-to-wire winner in the tournament's 52-year history and first since Justin Leonard in 2005.

Phil Mickelson, in his first event since announcing wife Amy has breast cancer, and John Daly, returning from a six-month PGA Tour suspension, tied for 59th at 1 over. Mickelson closed with a 75, and Daly shot a 70.

Mickelson spent the week trying to figure out how to play golf and deal with all the emotions resulting from his wife's illness.

"I needed to get a little bit of play in, see where my game was at and get back on the golf course in a competitive frame of mind if I was going to have a chance next week," Mickelson said. "I'm looking forward to next week's U.S. Open."

LPGA Tour

Anna Nordqvist completed a long day and a memorable week in splendid fashion, shooting a 4-under 68 to become the second straight rookie to win the LPGA Championship.

Nordqvist finished at 15-under 273, four shots ahead of Lindsey Wright in the tournament's final stand at Bulle Rock Golf Course in Havre de Grace, Md. The LPGA Championship will get a new sponsor and a new home in 2010.

After letting a five-shot lead dwindle to one, Nordqvist sank a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 14 and essentially clinched her first career victory with a 35-foot putt for a birdie on No. 15. When the shot dropped into the cup, the 22-year-old Swede pumped her fist with delight.

Nordqvist completed the final four holes of the suspended third round at 6:30 in the morning, then teed off as part of the final twosome shortly after 1:30 p.m. She took a two-shot lead into the fourth round, quickly increased the margin and held on to earn the $300,000 top prize.

-- The Associated Press