Humble, Texas ? Stuart Appleby made it look easy in the Shell Houston Open.

Appleby shot a 5-under 67 on Sunday to cap a wire-to-wire victory and join Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as the only two-time winners on the PGA Tour this year.

Appleby, also the 1999 winner in Houston, finished at 19-under 269 on the new Tournament Course at Redstone, six shots ahead of Bob Estes. Appleby matched the tournament record for margin of victory and was the first player in the event’s 60-year history to lead from the opening round to the end.

The victory margin was also a personal best in eight career wins for Appleby. He won twice in playoffs and the other five by one shot.

“To have a comfortable victory has never left my lips,” said Appleby, who won in 1999 by one stroke over John Cook and Hal Sutton. “It was nice to know, coming down the last part of the day that things were in hand.”

Stuart Appleby, of Australia, watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the final round of the Houston Open PGA golf tournament Sunday, April 23, 2006 in Humble, Texas.

Appleby, who turns 35 on May 1, earned $990,000 and has two victories in the same year for the first time in his career. In January, Appleby won the season-opening Mercedes Championships for the third straight time.

Estes closed with a 69 to finish second, and Steve Stricker was 12 under after a 66. Mathias Gronberg, paired with Appleby on Sunday, had a 73 to match Jerry Smith (72) at 10 under.

None of them ever threatened Appleby, who won for the fourth time in five tournaments when holding the 54-hole lead.