Enduring mastery of the short irons has brought Scott Hoch the biggest cheque of his career. With a final round of 69 for a 16-under-par total of 272 at Forest Oaks CC, Hoch captured top prize of $630,000 in the Greater Greensboro Classic last weekend.

The 45-year-old, who played in the 1997 Ryder Cup at Valderrama, was gaining his ninth US win and his first since the Greater Milwaukee Open earlier that year. And he claims to have received inspiration from an old friend during the critical final round.

"I just told Payne (Stewart) to try and help us get through the day and I really felt he was with me," said Hoch of a one-time colleague who died tragically. four months after winning the 1999 US Open. Hoch was using Stewart's former caddie, Mike Hicks.

Hoch, who broke down in tears, said: "I just started thinking about him (Stewart) when I got a little down and then something just turned me around. I can't say what it was. I just felt kind of a calmness out there."

Meanwhile, the man who used Tiger Woods's identify to steal $17,000 worth of goods has been sentenced to 200 yearsto-life in prison. Anthony Lemar Taylor was convicted of falsely obtaining a driver's licence using the name Eldrick T Woods, along with the player's social security number and his birth date. He bought luxury goods with credit cards.

The judge imposed the maximum sentence under California's so-called "three-strikes and you're out" law.