PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico (AP) — Brian Gay's 8-year-old daughter had it on good authority that her father would earn his first PGA Tour victory Sunday.
The defending champ's 12-year-old son told her so Saturday night.
Although Gay didn't know about the prediction, he did a nice job making it hold up, shooting a 1-under 69 in the final round to win the Mayakoba Golf Classic by two shots over Steve Marino.
The PGA Tour's second annual visit south of the border became Gay's to lose when he closed the third round with birdies on five of the last six holes. He took a five-stroke lead into the final round and led by at least four throughout the first 16 holes Sunday. Marino moved a shot closer on each of the last two holes, but all it changed was the margin of victory.
"Even though I had a big lead, it was tough just trying to not make mistakes, you know, just trying to make pars and get the ball in the center of the green," Gay said.
In his 293rd career start, the 36-year-old Gay finally was a winner; only 12 active players have entered more events without breaking through. He's the first first-time winner on tour this year.
"It's been a long time, obviously, a lot of hard work," he said. "So this is really a big, big relief to finally do it."
Then again, Taylor Funk — whose dad, Fred, won the inaugural event — knew it was going to happen after Gay's birdie flurry Saturday. At the hotel pool a few hours later, he told Makinley Gay, "Your dad's going to win."
Makinley told her mom, Kimberly, who then decided to keep that story between them to avoid adding to the pressure Daddy already felt. That may have been a good idea considering Gay didn't exactly storm to victory on a hot, hardly windy day that seemed ideal for scoring low.
He was even through 10 holes, offsetting a pair of birdies with a pair of bogeys, but was still comfortably ahead because none of the other contenders made a move. He went back under par for the day with birdies on 11 and 13.
Marino, however, birdied 11, 13 and 14, getting within four strokes with four holes left.
Gay's tee shot on 16 went in the bunker and his chip was well short of the pin. If he was going to crack, this was going to be it. Instead, he saved par by sinking a putt from at least 30 feet. In a rare display of emotion, Gay even gave a little fist pump. He breathed a little easier when he got on the 17th green in two shots; although he three-putted, he still figured the tournament was his.
The notion really hit him as he walked toward the 18th green, receiving the traditional cheers for the champion.
"It was different than I thought it would be," Gay said. "Working so hard all day, I had a hard time just letting it go and really enjoying it."
