JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM David Toms cruised to his first Sony Open victory with a final-round 65 on Sunday, getting him off to a nice start to the PGA Tour season.

Just warming up

Despite a wee bit of notice at the start, Sony champion Toms is up to No. 8

EARLY Thursday morning, David Toms was greeted at the No. 1 tee by a smattering of applause usually reserved for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new hospital.

He and playing partners David Duval and Brad Faxon formed a threesome filled with stardom and intrigue, but the only ones there to greet them were a dozen people staking out a spot for Michelle Wie and two reporters still wiping Wednesday night out of their eyes.

What helped keep the fortunate few who were there awake at 7:53 a.m. were angry trades howling from right to left on your radio dial. Obviously, Toms couldn't win it at the first of 72 holes, but the test of how to succeed at windy Waialae was handed out as Toms stood over his golf ball at the tough par 4.

His drive carried high into the early morning sky as he drew it down the fairway with a perfect eye for detail. An approach and a putt later, Toms began the Sony Open in Hawaii the same way he ended it Sunday, with a birdie. In between were 70 shape-shifting holes of golf designed for those who could play in the wind on Thursday and Friday and for those who could score when the trades went on the down low Saturday and Sunday.

Toms answered nearly every question correctly and consequently passed the first full-field PGA Tour test of 2006 with the ease of a man in complete control of his shot selection. His 12th tour win lifted Toms back into the top 10 of the world of golf and third in the Ryder Cup standings.

The 39-year-old, who four months ago was being carted off the course in a stretcher after his heart took a beat on the wild side at the 84 Lumber Classic in Pennsylvania, made it look easy. He was tied for second after a first-round 66, fell one spot to third after a second-round 69, moved into a tie for first with a third-round 61 that was a career low, and won by five after a closing 18 of 65.

Later, in the media room, Toms was obviously touched as emotion crept into his voice like a man remembering a friend's life at his funeral. The former Louisiana State star, whose passion for football is well-known in golfing circles, didn't let the moment overwhelm him, but it was obvious Toms never takes for granted that there will be a next win.

The victory not only left him at No. 8 in the world, but also secured his spot on the Ryder Cup team that will be traveling to Ireland next September to face a 12-man team from Europe. By then, he will be a year removed from his health scare in Pennsylvania, something he made clear at the Mercedes Championships as no big deal.

"I still get questions about it," Toms said. "Every week somebody will ask me in the gallery or somebody with the media or just somebody with the golf tournament, you know, am I OK. I'm fine. That is definitely behind me. Just like when I had hand surgery a couple of years ago, I came out and was able to play right away. I've come a long way obviously, from that day in Philadelphia.

"This year there was a sense of urgency because I really want to make the Ryder Cup team. I think (Tom) Lehman is going to be a heck of a captain. It's going to be a great event over there and it's something that I desperately want, to be a part of that team. I needed to get off to a good start so I didn't have all that pressure on me toward the summer or end of the summer. This helps a lot toward that goal."

Toms was only part of the story of this Sony Open. Wie and Parker McLachlin represented the local golf scene with solid performances. A 79 on Thursday left Wie loose and relaxed on Friday for a 2-under 68. She still missed the cut by four and that begs the question as to how much longer should she receive a sponsor's exemption.

McLachlin's route into the Sony was much more difficult, but certainly rewarding as he finished in a tie for 59th and a paycheck worth $10,914. It sends him off with a little cash in his pocket as he embarks on his Nationwide Tour of duty to Panama and beyond.

The Sony Open will also be broadcast on the Golf Channel next year.

Ratings weren't that good this season on ESPN because the tournament was against the National Football League playoffs in a can't-win TV scenario.

That won't change next year regardless of who is broadcasting the event. And because the Golf Channel isn't in as many households nationwide as ESPN, the ratings number is sure to fall before ever going up, no matter who is in the field.

For now, the event is basking in a nice afterglow with all the success stories. But there are many challenges ahead as the PGA Tour eases into an ever-evolving era in 2007. How the Hawaii tournaments fare in this brave, new world will go a long way in determining their life expectancy four years from now.