Norman Hits Vegas Jackpot

LAS VEGAS, Nev. -- Greg Norman knew the tournament -- and the richest prize on the PGA Tour -- was his when he ripped his drive off the 10th tee Sunday.

"That's it, boys," Norman said to himself, "You're going to have to go hard to catch me now."

No one did. No one even seriously challenged Norman, who went on to match some Tour scoring records in the five-day, 90-hole Las Vegas Invitational, and. in the process, snapped a 2-year, non-winning string. He also pocketed the $207,000 first prize, the largest on the PGA Tour.

"It just goes to show it just takes patience," said Norman, an Orlando resident who was a frustrated runner-up to Jack Nicklaus in the Masters and Fuzzy Zoeller at the Heritage in his last two starts.

"If you keep knocking at the door, sooner or later it's going to open. I guess this week I took It right off its hinges."

He did, indeed.

It wasn't even close over the last 18 holes on the wind-raked Las Vegas Country Club course.

Norman, his sun-bleached hair glistening in the desert sunshine, started the day three shots in front, birdied two of the first four holes and took it from there, finishing with a round of 7 under-par 65.