Howard Twitty really didn't want the record. It was the victory that was precious.
"There are no words to describe what this means to me," the 44-year-old veteran said after a 4-stroke triumph Sunday in the Hawaiian Open.It was his first victory since the Greater Hartford Open of 1980, 12 years and 7 months ago, the longest time between wins in PGA Tour history. The old record of 12 years was set by Leonard Thompson in the 1989 Buick Open.
Twitty, who led all the way in this event, scored the third victory of his 19-year tour career with a closing round of 68 and a 269 total, 19 under par on the revamped Waialae Country Club course.
For the record, it was worth $216,000 from a purse of $1.2 million. In reality, however, its value was without measure to the old pro from Paradise Valley, Ariz.
In addition to the largest check of his career, he received a joyous hug from 12-year-old daughter Jocelyn, born the year of his last victory, as well as entry into such exclusive events as the Masters and the World Series of Golf.
"This is very, very special," Twitty said. "There are a lot of emotions, an awful, awful lot of emotions. With my daughter being here to see it, it's one of the special days of my life."
It was special for his fellow players, too.
"We're all delighted for Howard," said Joey Sindelar, who came on to take second alone. "I think everybody on the tour is thrilled for him. He's one of the nice, nice guys. And to win after going 13 years, wow, that's something."
Sindelar, who holed a 155-yard, 8-iron shot for an eagle-2 on the sixth hole, had a closing 68 and a 273 total, by far the best finish of his career on the western swing that opens the tour schedule.
Although he once shared the lead with Twitty, Sindelar said he really wasn't thinking much about winning.
"To tell you the truth, with my swing and my confidence so tender, I was glad there was such a big gap behind us," he said.
"I figured I could have my worst nightmare and still finish in the top 10."
Paul Azinger didn't exactly have a nightmare, but his frustration with this event continued.
After moving to within one stroke of the lead, he fell back in the stretch run, shot 70 and was third at 274. Azinger, who has yet to win this title, has been second three times and third twice in the Hawaiian Open since 1986.
It was another three strokes back to Bret Ogle, Jeff Maggert and Keith Clearwater, tied for fourth at 277.
Ogle, an Australian newcomer to the American tour, shot 70 while Maggert and Clearwater had 71s on a course strengthened and toughened by the addition of new bunkers on several holes and new mounding along fairways and around greens.
Twitty, who played the front in par to drift back into a tie with Sindelar, pulled in front alone with a two-putt birdie-4 on the 13th hole, then took control with a 18-foot, sidehill birdie putt on the 15th.
A 6-footer on the next hole lifted him three strokes clear of the field and after that it was just a matter of getting his score in the house.