Furyk dominates Grand Slam

Weir finishes eight strokes back in second place

? Jim Furyk carded a 4-under-par 68 to win the PGA Grand Slam by eight strokes Saturday over Mike Weir.

U.S. Open champion Furyk pocketed $400,000 of a $1 million purse and snapped Tiger Woods’ record string of five straight victories in the exclusive 36-hole event for the winners of this year’s four majors. Furyk wound up 9 under on the 7,081-yard Poipu Bay course.

Furyk, who won twice this year on the PGA Tour and finished fourth on the money list, was never seriously threatened. He opened Friday with a 67, good for a five-stroke lead over Masters champion Weir.

Weir, the first Canadian to win a major, closed with a 71 to earn $250,000. PGA champion Shaun Micheel shot a 70 to finish 10 strokes back at 145 and collect $200,000. British Open champion Ben Curtis was another shot behind after a final-round 73 and made $150,000.

It was the first event in the Grand Slam’s 21-year history featuring all first-time major champions. But it was nine-year tour veteran Furyk who showed his experience.

He held off his opponents with strong iron play, maintained his five-stroke advantage at the turn and birdied Nos. 10, 12 and 14 to pull away.

Furyk hit a 5-iron approach shot from 158 yards to set up a six-foot birdie putt on the 435-yard 12th hole. The birdie, coupled with Weir’s bogey, gave Furyk a commanding eight-stroke lead.

He went up by another stroke on par-4 14th when he hit a wedge within six feet of the cup. Furyk’s round included five birdies and one bogey. He had a total of 11 birdies for the tournament. His opponents combined for 15.