Gay's Train a Runaway at the Verizon Heritage

Brian Gay not only won the Verizon Heritage but won it in record fashion. His lead of three strokes combined with a Sunday 64 that was two shots better than any player in the field meant records were broken in Harbour Town this week.

With only two bogeys all week Gay set the tournament scoring record at 20-under par besting Loren Roberts 19-under par in 1996. His 10-stroke margin of victory exceeded Davis Love III’s seven-stroke win in 1998.

The conductor knew it was a special day and what was needed to keep the train on track accelerating forward to his second PGA TOUR victory. “(It was) another unbelievable day. (I) got off to a great start with a birdie (and) eagle (that) kind of propelled me forward.

"I just told myself to keep my head down, keep plugging along. I didn't watch any boards. I didn't look at anything, just kept playing, trying to make birdies.”

Gay who was successful with his last 54-hole lead winning the 2008 Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico utilized a similar strategy to win again. “I kept the blinders on, I just kept looking ahead of me and I wasn't paying any attention to who was out there and what was going on.”

Knowing he teed off with a three stroke lead and started birdie-eagle he didn’t even talk to his caddie about his position until the 18th hole. “I said, "Who's in second?" He said, "I don't know." I said, "How far ahead am I?" And he said, "I don't know."

Somehow they knew Gay was first and it did not matter who was second. The tartan jacket a Verizon Heritage tradition was coming his way.

Gay who was still nervous even after that tremendous start was happy with the win but wanted everyone to know one thing. “It's never as easy as it looks.”

Luke Donald all the way back from a wrist injury at last year’s US Open shot 65-66 on the weekend and jumped from T10 going into Sunday to finish T2. “I wish I could keep playing, you know, I was just getting going, and (with) 15 birdies (in) the last 36 holes.

"I ran out of holes, unfortunately, and Brian Gay keeps making birdies. He obviously played great.”

Donald who recorded his fourth Top 10 of the season is resting up for the next big tournament. “I'm looking forward to a couple of days off, and (will) see you guys at The PLAYERS.”

Briny Baird who finished fourth at last year’s PLAYERS Championship and tied for second with Donald put Sunday’s round in perspective. “Once I saw what Brian did earlier and it was like, you know, it's depressing. And to see where he's at now, it's not depressing anymore, I'm happy for the guy, he's playing phenomenal.”

Baird acknowledged the tournament within the tournament namely who would finish in second place. “If Brian Gay just decided to take one more week off, we'd be having a good time back there on 18. I think a couple of us lost to Brian.”

Tim Wilkinson who shot a two-over par 73 fell from second to a tie for sixth place echoed Baird’s sentiments: “When Brian got off to that start, it was almost playing for second.”

While Donald and Baird tied for second place veteran and two-time US Open Champion bogeyed the 18th hole to fall into a tie for fourth place with Todd Hamilton who won the 2004 British Open. It certainly was a day when the inexperienced players on the PGA TOUR held off and beat the veteran Major Champions.

Boo Weekley the two-time defending champion of the event gave it the old college try birdieing the 18th hole shot 68 and moved up from T26 to T13. “I'm still a champ; they can't take that from me. I just wasn't this year's champion. I'm not the one that will be holding the trophy. I'm a little sad on that end.”

Gay is the first one to win a tournament and qualify for next year’s Masters. “I thought about it last night. It is what it is. I've had a lot of heartache not getting in that tournament, winning (the Mayakoba Golf Classic and) not getting in, and missing by one spot on the money list two times.

"I just figured, who cares? What's going to happen is going to happen, just go play golf.” Play golf is exactly what he went out and did on Sunday afternoon on the Harbour Town Golf Links.

Though his game was flashy enough Gay chose to wear lime green pants for the final round. “I've always been kind of picky about my clothes, but just got a little more fashion forward, if you will. I'm having fun with the colors and belt buckles and that sort of stuff.”

Though the lime green pants clashed a little with the tartan jacket he won today maybe they will go a little better with that green jacket he will be pursuing next spring up the road in Augusta.

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel.

He resides in Jacksonville Beach, Florida near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]