MEMPHIS (Tennesse), June 30: David Toms claimed his second PGA Tour title of the season on Sunday with a three-shot victory in the St Jude Classic.

Toms, who won the Wachovia Championship in May, shot a seven-under-par 64 to finish on 20-under 264 and scoop $810,000 for his ninth career win.

Zimbabwe’s Nick Price, playing 90 minutes ahead of Toms, set the early target when he shot a nine-under 262 to finish on 267, enough for second place.

American Bob Estes and Swedish duo Fredrik Jacobson and Richard Johnson tied for third a stroke behind Price.

Americans Ben Crane and two-time US Open champion Lee Janzen placed in a tie for sixth on 269.

Toms, who became the seventh multiple winner on the tour this season, used a streak of four birdies on the front side and a mammoth putt on the back to claim his ninth career title, made special because it came at the event nearest his Louisiana home.

While his score was impressive, so was the way he achieved it. At least that is what Johnson thought. Johnson, who took a one-stroke lead into the final round before tying for third, was Toms’ playing partner.

Through 26 events this season, seven players have combined for 17 titles. Tiger Woods, Davis Love and Canada’s Mike Weir have three crowns apiece, with South Africa’s Ernie Els, Fiji’s Vijay Singh, Kenny Perry and Toms at two each.

Leading final round scores (US unless stated):

264 — David Toms 68, 67, 65, 64.

267 — Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 73, 67, 65, 62.

268 — Bob Estes 67, 70, 66, 65; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 66, 67, 68, 67; Richard Johnson (Sweden) 64, 66, 69, 69.

269 — Ben Crane 70, 68, 64, 67; Lee Janzen 68, 66, 67, 68.

270 — David Peoples 65, 66, 70, 69.

271 — Hank Kuehne 68, 68, 69, 66; Fred Funk 71, 69, 65, 66; Jay Haas 64, 70, 69, 68; Kirk Triplett 67, 67, 69, 68; Chris DiMarco 68, 70, 65, 68.

272 — Stephen Ames (Trinidad and Tobago) 68, 71, 68, 65; John Senden (Australia) 71, 68, 66, 67; Tim Herron 68, 68, 65, 71.

273 — Robert Damron 65, 73, 70, 65; Robert Allenby (Australia) 70, 70, 67, 66; John Huston 67, 63, 73, 70.

274 — Matt Kuchar 72, 68, 67, 67; Vance Veazey 69, 67, 70, 68; Scott McCarron 69, 70, 67, 68; David Gossett 66, 67, 71, 70; Chris Riley 69, 66, 68, 71; Dicky Pride 69, 67, 67, 71; Notah Begay III 68, 71, 64, 71.

Other international players:

277 — Greg Chalmers (Australia) 68, 71, 69, 69; Jose Coceres (Argentina) 69, 69, 68, 71; Esteban Toledo (Mexico) 71, 70, 65, 71.

279 — Anthony Painter (Australia) 69, 72, 68, 70.

281 — Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 67, 74, 74, 66; Thomas Levet (France) 73, 67, 67, 74.

286 — Steven Alker (New Zealand) 69, 72, 70, 75.

288 — John Morgan (Britain) 69, 71, 79, 69.

Leading world rankings (US unless stated, previous ranking in brackets):

1. (1) Tiger Woods 15.14 points average; 2. (2) Ernie Els (South Africa) 9.24; 3. (3) Mike Weir (Canada) 7.90; 4. (4) Davis Love III 7.51; 5. (5) Vijay Singh (Fiji) 7.42; 6. (6) Jim Furyk 7.35; 7. (7) David Toms 7.04; 8. (8) Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 6.40; 9. (9) Phil Mickelson 6.34; 10. (12) Nick Price (Zimbabwe) 5.70; 11. (10) Kenny Perry 5.68; 12. (11) Retief Goosen (South Africa) 5.44; 13. (13) Justin Leonard 4.48; 14. (14) Chris DiMarco 4.14; 15. (15) Sergio Garcia (Spain) 3.89; 16. (17) Bob Estes 3.60; 17. (16) Robert Allenby (Australia) 3.52; 18. (20) Jerry Kelly 3.29; 19. (19) Scott Verplank 3.29; 20. (22) Scott Hoch 3.28.—Reuters/AFP