AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 28 -- Jose Maria Olazabal of Spain scrambled to an unlikely par on the final hole Sunday that allowed him to defeat Scott Hoch by a single stroke and win the $2 million World Series of Golf. Olazabal became only the second player this year to win more than one tournament on the PGA Tour, having captured the Masters in April. He fired a closing round of 3-under 67 in damp, blustery conditions at the Firestone Country Club's North Course to finish 72 holes in 11- under 269. 'I'm more proud of the round I played today, because the conditions were very tough,' said Olazabal, who won $360,000. 'It was very windy. ' Hoch birdied the final hole with a two-foot putt to finish alone at 270, but missed a putt of similar length for par at the previous hole. Olazabal, who began the day three shots behind third-round leader Steve Lowery, hit his second shot at the closing hole in rough near the green. But he hit an excellent pitch shot to salvage par. 'I'm happy with every part of my game,' he said. It was the second World Series victory for Olazabal, who also won the event in 1990 with a record 18-under 262 on the South course. Lowery, bidding to win his second straight tournament after not having won in any of his first six years on the PGA Tour, finished tied for third with Brad Faxon at 9-under after a final round of 72.
Lowery came to the final hole one stroke behind Olazabal, but his second shot on the par-4 18th bounced through the green and into the crowd. He finished at 9-under 271. Lowery's bogey at No. 18 cost him a spot on the President's Cup team. The team will play a series of matches against international competition in three weeks. Hoch was at 9-under with two holes to play and had an excellent chance to force a playoff when his tee shot on the par-3 17th landed four feet from the hole. But he missed the birdie putt with a shot reminiscent of his miss at the Masters five years ago. Mark McNulty was alone in fifth at 8-under while Mike Heinen and Fred Couples finished at 7-under. The closing round was marred by an incident involving controversial pro John Daly after he had finished play for the day. Witnesses to the incident said Daly got into a scuffle with the father of fellow- competitor Jeff Roth, who played in the group in front of Daly Sunday. Daly reportedly hit several shots into the group playing ahead of him during the fourth round. One of the shots narrowly missed Roth. Roth's mother confronted Daly after the round to question him about the shots and witnesses said obscenities were exchanged, after which Jeff Roth's father jumped on Daly's back. Fans broke up the fight after the two men had wrestled to the ground. PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem, who was at the tournament, said he would investigate the matter before commenting. The closing round of the World Series also made final the 10 automatic spots on both the international and American teams for next month's inaugural President's Cup. The international squad will include Nick Price of Zimbabwe, David Frost of South Africa, Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe, Vijay Singh of Fiji, Frank Nobilo of New Zealand, and Greg Norman, Peter Senior, Steve Elkington, Craig Parry and Robert Allenby -- all of Australia. Those making the American team were Hoch, Jeff Maggert, Tom Lehman, Corey Pavin, John Huston, Loren Roberts, Jim Gallagher, Hale Irwin, Davis Love III and Fred Couples. Two wild-card selections will be made to both teams Monday.
