Martins wins first Tour title

LAS VEGAS -- Scotland's Martin Laird won the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open yesterday for his first PGA Tour title, beating George McNeill with a birdie on the third hole of a playoff.

Laird closed with a 3-under 68 to match McNeill (67) and former UNLV player Chad Campbell (69) at 19-under 265. Campbell was eliminated on the second extra hole.

The 26-year-old Laird, a former Colorado State player, earned $756,000 and a two-year tour exemption for the breakthrough victory at TPC Summerlin in his 53rd tour star. He jumped from 134th to 62nd on the money list with $1,271,254.

Three-time Las Vegas winner Jim Furyk (62) and Jeff Klauk (68) tied for fourth at 18 under, and former UNLV player Charley Hoffman (68) followed at 17 under.

Laird sank 11-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th for the victory after McNeill hit his approach near the greenside water hazard and saw an 18-foot par putt lip out.

Campbell dropped out with a bogey on the par-3 17th.

CHAMPIONS

Cook victorious

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Tired of only coming close to winning this year, John Cook reined in his impatience and hit some clutch shots to win the Administaff Small Business Classic for his third career Champions Tour title.

The 52-year-old Cook, an 11-time winner on the regular PGA Tour, closed with a 4-under 68 to hold off Jay Haas and Bob Tway by two shots. Cook finished at 11-under 205 on The Woodlands Country Club's Tournament Course.

"I've had trouble finishing events," said Cook, who lost to Mike Reid in a playoff in August at the Tradition in Oregon, one of the Champions Tour majors, then was fifth two weeks ago at the Senior Players Championship.

"I was getting ahead of myself. Today, I just didn't do that."