Beckman wins $648,000 prize in Mexico

FROM THE AOL GOLF NEWS SERVICE
American Cameron Beckman produced his fourth consecutive sub-70 round on Sunday to win the US PGA Tour's Mayakoba Golf Classic by two shots at Riviera Maya-Cancun in Mexico.
Having posted rounds of 65, 68, 69 over the first three days, the 40-year-old closed the competition with a four-under-par 67 to finish on 15 under overall and secure the third Tour title of his career and a cashs prize of $648,000.
Beckman started his final round three strokes behind Joe Durant, who had set the pace from the outset, but the Floridian could only manage a 72 on Sunday and had to settle for joint second place alongside fellow American Brian Stuard (66).
Sweden's Richard S Johnson carded a final round of 65 to end in a tie for fourth a further shot back alongside US quartet Skip Kendall (64), Briny Baird (68), Chad Collins (70) and JP Hayes (71).
Beckman was in no doubt as to what had been the key to his victory.
"Without question, putting," he said. "I mean, I hit the ball well also, but this is probably the best I've putted in a long time - probably since the last time I won.
"I just put a new putter in play two weeks ago, and just absolutely putted beautifully on these greens.
"My caddie and I read them really well, too - just a beautiful week of putting."
A birdie on the 17th on Sunday helped Beckman clinch the most comprehensive triumph of his three career titles to date.
He recalled: "The first one I won by a shot on the last hole. The last one I won in a play-off. So this one was a little bit easier, but still difficult."
Controversial as ever, John Daly had an 81 in his final round after three earlier sub-70 scores.
FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
269 Cameron Beckman 65 68 69 67
271 Brian Stuard 67 67 71 66, Joe Durant 64 66 69 72
272 Richard S Johnson (Swe) 68 71 68 65, Chad Collins 67 68 67 70, J.P. Hayes 65 67 69 71, Briny Baird 65 70 69 68, Skip Kendall 70 69 69 64
273 Kevin Stadler 69 67 67 70, Jarrod Lyle (Aus) 65 72 69 67
274 Charles Warren 67 69 65 73, Matt Weibring 69 67 68 70
275 Chris Riley 68 68 70 69, Ted Purdy 69 69 67 70, Mark Hensby (Aus) 67 68 71 69, Heath Slocum 68 69 67 71
276 Mike Small 73 68 68 67, Shaun Micheel 68 68 70 70, Glen Day 70 68 68 70
277 Jeff Maggert 66 70 71 70, K J Choi (Kor) 67 70 69 71, Charles Howell III 68 71 66 72
278 Francis Quinn 72 67 70 69, Marco Dawson 69 71 70 68, Tim Herron 70 71 66 71, Billy Mayfair 72 65 71 70, Tom Pernice Jnr. 66 68 71 73
279 Jerry Kelly 68 72 69 70, Spencer Levin 69 69 70 71, Vance Veazey 71 66 71 71, Todd Hamilton 71 68 69 71, Michael Connell 70 67 70 72, Mark Wilson 71 69 70 69, Dean Wilson 67 71 70 71, Shigeki Maruyama (Jpn) 66 71 73 69, Frank Lickliter II 72 68 70 69
280 Chris Tidland 67 69 72 72, Mark Brooks 69 70 71 70, John Morse 70 68 71 71
281 Brendon De Jonge 70 68 67 76, Chris Stroud 69 71 71 70, Erik Compton 67 72 73 69, Jay Williamson 67 71 73 70, Santiago Luna (Spa) 71 70 68 72, J.L. Lewis 71 69 70 71, Matt Bettencourt 71 68 69 73, Thomas Levet (Fra) 66 70 69 76
282 J J Henry 70 69 69 74, Kirk Triplett 71 69 68 74, John Merrick 68 72 70 72, Garrett Willis 69 69 74 70, Steve Wheatcroft 67 70 71 74, Michael Clark II 70 70 71 71, Jason Gore 66 71 68 77
283 Brad Faxon 71 68 71 73, Paul Stankowski 71 68 71 73, Boo Weekley 67 72 71 73, Craig Bowden 68 70 71 74
284 Kris Blanks 72 69 71 72, Alejandro Canizares (Spa) 69 69 73 73
285 David Lutterus (Rsa) 72 68 75 70, Chris Wilson 70 70 72 73
286 Justin Bolli 73 68 68 77, Joe Ogilvie 69 70 75 72, Greg Kraft 69 70 76 71, Roger Tambellini 70 69 68 79
287 John Daly 68 69 69 81, Jonathan Kaye 70 70 72 75, Carl Pettersson (Swe) 70 71 73 73, Jim Carter 70 70 74 73
288 Mark Calcavecchia 68 72 73 75, Craig Barlow 70 69 78 71, Jerod Turner 70 70 70 78
290 Robin Freeman 70 71 77 72
291 Spike McRoy 73 67 75 76