Insider: Mize replaces doubt, gets back to winning ways

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Highlighted by his 64 in the final round, Larry Mize won his first Champions Tour event in Montreal.

The swing is still flowing and elegant, same as all those years on the PGA TOUR. And, once again after a long wait, it got Larry Mize into the winner's circle.

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It wasn't easy -- it never is in golf -- but there's a universally effortless feel in shooting 64. Maybe because there's no wasted energy or motion, and nothing squandered. There can't be any of those things in 64.

Mize fired a final-round 8-under-par at the inaugural Montreal Championship to post his first victory in nearly 17 years since the 1993 Buick Open at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan.

Mize blitzed the Club de Golf Le Fontainebleau in Blainville, Quebec, with a round including an eagle and three successive birdies on the back to overtake John Cook by 1 shot.

Yes, it was a long time coming. Yes, it was worth the wait. It came on Mize's 36th start on the Champions Tour and after several near-misses a year ago.

Mize had a number in his mind before the final round began. It was 65 or maybe even 64. The key was to eliminate thoughts of satisfaction and complacency.

"Just keep making birdies, keep making birdies," Mize said. "Even when I eagled 10 to take the lead momentarily I knew that I had to keep making birdies and that that wasn't going to be enough. That was kind of my game plan."

Mize gave the new Champions Tour event high grades, and the galleries returned the sentiment.

"Fans have been phenomenal," he said.

It was one stellar shot after another for Mize, beginning with opening birdies on the first two holes. He had his foot on the gas. An enormous 40-foot eagle putt at the 10th set the tone for the back nine.

"Obviously, I putted well," Mize said. "I couldn't be more pleased. I played really solid and [was] fortunate to sneak this one out."

Mize acknowledged that there is always doubt during a victory drought.

"You continue to replace the doubt with belief in your ability," he said. "That's what I was doing out there. I just said, 'Continue to believe in yourself, you've put in the work and trust it and let it go. You have to replace those doubts. They are no fun. I don't like those doubts.

"I played well out here last year and wasn't able to pull one out. This year has been not as good. It's been a little bit of a struggle at times but it's still not bad, don't get me wrong. To pull out a victory and shoot 64 on the last day is just really encouraging for me and not having won in almost 17 years is a good way of playing out here. I enjoy playing out here."

The 1987 Masters champion ranks the final round among his best.

"It's got to be up there," he said.

Mize became the 10th golfer to win on the Champions Tour this year and joins Couples and Mark O'Meara as the third first-time winner. The 64 matched his career-low score on the Champions Tour, matching his performance in the third round of last year's Senior British Open and his lowest final-round winning score in his TOUR career. It earned him a two-year exemption and entry into the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai.

With the winning share of 270 points, Mize moved into 11th place on the Charles Schwab Cup points list.