Maruyama makes history

Japan’s Shigeki Maruyama captured his second career PGA Tour title, holding off rookie Ben Crane and Tiger Woods to win the Byron Nelson Classic in Irving, Texas.

Maruyama saved par three times on the back nine and ended up with a two-under-par 68.

He finished with a 14-under-par total of 266, two shots in front of Crane and four ahead of Woods.

Maruyama became the first Asian with multiple Tour victories having won the Greater Milwaukee Open last year to become the first Japanese player to win on the United States mainland.

It marked the second straight week an Asian has claimed a victory after KJ Choi became the first South Korean to win on the PGA Tour when he captured the Compaq Classic.

The triumph for Maruyama is more impressive since it came against a field that boasted eight of the world’s top 10 players.

The victory secured Maruyama the 864,000 US dollar first prize and a spot in the upcoming US Open.

World number one Woods tied Crane for the lowest round of the day, carding a five-under-par 65 to finish at 10 under on 270.