PAST FAILURES FORGED LEHMAN'S OPEN WIN.

Byline: Ron Sirak Associated Press 

Tom Lehman's British Open triumph was crafted on Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club, but its foundation was built at Augusta, Shinnecock and Oakland Hills.

For the fourth time, Lehman played in the final group at a major championship. For the first time, he won. It was a victory built on past defeats, but another courageous finish finally brought him his reward.

His 73 on Sunday for a 72-hole total of 13-under-par 271 was two strokes better than Ernie Els and Mark McCumber and three in front of Nick Faldo.

As the final 3-foot putt fell into the hole Lehman raised his arms in triumph, gave an emotional embrace to his caddy, Andy Martinez, blew two kisses to the crowd and gave a special embrace to his father.

``It was such a struggle today,'' Lehman said. ``I didn't have my rhythm with my putting stroke. You just kind of grind it out.''

It was especially sweet for Lehman, who returned to the PGA Tour in 1992 after losing his card and playing for three years in Asia, South Africa, on the Nike Tour and anywhere else he could get in a tournament.

``To come here and get that silver trophy makes it all worthwhile,'' Lehman said. ``It makes all the mini-tours, everything, worth it.''

Lehman's determined effort came as he held up under relentless pressure from Faldo - his playing partner and perhaps the best head-to-head player in the world - and Els, who played two groups in front and shot a 67.

He also stood strong as the hugely pro-Faldo crowd carried their home-country hero along with thunderous applause on every green and constant shouts of ``C'mon, Nick'' and ``Go on, Nick.''

At times some of the shouts turned a little ruder, reminiscent of the partisan nationalistic cheering at a Ryder Cup.

Faldo started the day six strokes behind Lehman - just as he was at the Masters when he overcame that deficit to defeat Greg Norman. The Englishman had his best game with him - just as he did at Augusta - but was betrayed time and again by his putter and could shoot no better than 70.

He missed four birdie putts of seven feet or less in the first seven holes, two of which went into the cup and spun put. Faldo pulled within three strokes with a 33 on the front nine, but never got closer.

``I had a bad run on 5, 6 and 7,'' Faldo said. ``It was tough to get some confidence after that.

``I had so many chances to make it and just didn't use my chances,'' the three-time British Open champion said. ``It was as simple as that.''

Playing the 18th with a two-stroke lead over Els and McCumber, Lehman drove into the left rough but played safely to the front of the green and two-putted from 50 feet.

The two players were greeted by a long, loud ovation when they walked to the final green and Lehman, knowing the victory was in hand, took his hat off and waved it to the crowd, a faint smile crossing his face.

The only other American to win in the nine British Opens played at Royal Lytham was amateur Bobby Jones in 1926, the first time the Open was played here. Lehman's 271 was the best score every at Lytham in an Open, bettering Seve Ballesteros' 1988 effort by two shots.

``He played well,'' Faldo said of Lehman. ``He played sensibly. He manages his game and he had the nice cushion.''

Els got to 13-under through 15 holes, but bogeyed two of the final three holes for his 273. McCumber got to 273 with a closing 66.

Fred Couples was 12-under par after nine holes but shot a 41 on the back nine to finish at 277.

Lehman didn't putt any better than Faldo, he was just missing from farther away. He didn't make a putt of any length until he rolled in a 12-footer for a birdie on No. 12 to get back to 15-under, where he started the day.

Lehman made two bogeys coming in - at No. 14 when he three-putted from 45 feet off the fringe and on No. 17 - and never let anyone get closer than two strokes.

For the 37-year-old Lehman, the victory ended a run of frustrations on the final day of major championships.

He played well each of the three previous times he was in the last group on Sunday, but always something good happened to someone else to keep him from winning.

Lehman shot a 71 at the U.S. Open last month on a very difficult Oakland Hills course but Steve Jones slipped by him with a final-round 69.

At the 1995 U.S. Open, Lehman was paired on the last day with Greg Norman and finished third after Corey Pavin hit his spectacular 4-wood on the final hole to win.

And Lehman was runner-up when paired in the final group with winner Jose Maria Olazabal in the 1994 Masters.

``One of the biggest things was actually losing to Olazabal in 1994,'' Lehman said, explaining how he stood so firm at Royal Lytham. ``I felt like I held up under the pressure.''

That pressure was intensified on the first hole, a 206-yard par-3, when Faldo hit first and knocked his ball to seven feet. Lehman got his to 30 feet and survived when Faldo missed the first of a slew of short putts he would fail to convert.

Lehman gave a stroke back on No. 3 when be bogeyed after hitting his second shot from a bunker on one knee.

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Photo: (color) Tom Lehman hugs the British Open trop hy after holding off Ernie Els, Mark McCumber and Nick Faldo for the win.

Associated Press

Chart: TOP FINISHERS