Golf: Mitchell claims first PGA win with big final putt

Keith Mitchell sank a clutch 15-foot birdie putt at the last hole to win his first PGA Tour event with a one-stroke victory at the Honda Classic on Sunday.

The second-year professional edged out Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler with a final round 67 to finish at nine-under 271.

The more experienced Koepka (66) and Fowler (67) put the pressure on but Mitchell denied them a chance at a playoff at PGA National with his long putt.

The 27-year-old began his day with back-to-back bogeys, then roared back with birdies at four of the final seven holes. "I've been close before and I let my emotions take over," Mitchell told NBC television. "I bogeyed the first couple of holes and I said, 'Not again.'"

He finished the day with a big smile to go with six birdies and three bogeys.

"I was trying to focus on what was going on," Mitchell said. "My mind started wandering there a little bit at the end ... and then I hit a great putt."

Ryan Palmer (63) and Lucas Glover (66) shared fourth at seven-under 273 and 56-year-old Vijay Singh (70) was sixth at six-under as he missed a chance to become the oldest player to win a PGA Tour event.

A thrilling final nine holes saw as many as six players tied for the lead at Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Palmer set the early tone with his splendid early finish that included eight birdies and a bogey in the round of 63.

As he watched from the clubhouse for several hours, things heated up on the tough back nine.

Third-round co-leader Wyndham Clark (72-275) and the surging Koepka and Fowler, who made a 45-foot birdie putt at the 17th, also were tied for the top at one point.

Finally it came down to Mitchell, Koepka and Fowler.

Koepka birdied two of his last three holes, and Fowler closed with four birdies in eight holes.

Mitchell birdied the par-three 15th hole from four feet and then made the clutch putt at 18 even though his tee shot ended up in a bunker.

Singh lost a chance to be in the mix when he hit his tee shot badly at the 17th and the ball rolled into the water.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Raleigh, North Carolina; Editing by Ken Ferris/Ian Ransom)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Thomas wins Honda Classic in playoff for eighth PGA Tour title

Justin Thomas improved to third in the world rankings and enhanced his reputation as clutch performer when he won the Honda Classic in a playoff against Luke List in Florida on Sunday.

Thomas birdied the first extra hole, sinking a three-foot putt at the par-five 18th at PGA National to edge Thomas as darkness descended rapidly over Palm Beach Gardens.

Earlier, Thomas (68) and fellow American List (69) finished regulation at eight-under 272, one stroke ahead of Swede Alex Noren (67).

Tiger Woods (70) was eight strokes behind in 12th place.

Thomas, 24, was pleased with the patience and course management he displayed to collect his eighth PGA Tour victory, and his second this season.

"It was another level of difficultly, not only the amount of people I was trying to beat, but this golf course in itself," he said of a tournament that was played mostly in testing winds.

"I just stayed patient. I thought I stayed very calm all day. I know what this back nine holds and I know how tough it can be. It feels awesome to come out on top."

Thomas, who won his first major last August at the PGA Championship, looks increasingly likely to be one of the favourites at the year's first major, the U.S. Masters at Augusta National in April.

With Sunday's victory, he improved from fourth to third in the world, swapping places with Jordan Spieth.

Dustin Johnson and Jon Rahm remain first and second.

Thomas won on Sunday after a poor drive at the 72nd hole prompted him to lay up, from where he stuck a precise wedge shot to two feet to match List's tap-in birdie.

Noren, meanwhile, missed an 18-foot birdie putt at the last to slip out of the playoff.

Thomas was flawless in the playoff, reaching the back fringe in two shots and then lagging his eagle putt down to three feet.

List has yet to win on the PGA Tour but felt coming so close had energised him for the season.

"This one's going to sting a little bit but I know I've found a restored passion for what I'm doing out here," the 33-year-old said.

"I was proud of the way I fought back after not a great front nine ... I know I'll be back in this position again."

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Adelaide, South Australia; editing by Ken Ferris/Greg Stutchbury)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Fowler closes deal, wins Honda Classic by four strokes

American Rickie Fowler breathed a sigh of relief after clinching a four-stroke victory at the $6.4 million Honda Classic in Florida on Sunday.

Fowler, previously 0-for-4 after starting the final round leading on the PGA Tour, frittered away almost all of his four-stroke advantage on a breezy day at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.

But he steadied a leaky ship by sinking consecutive long birdie putts, a 40-footer at the 12th hole followed by a 25-footer at the next, and extended his lead to five strokes with two holes left.

"My putter saved me," Fowler, 28, said in a greenside interview after carding 71 to finish at 12-under-par 268 for his fourth PGA Tour victory. He also has won three times internationally.

"I made some good putts. The two birdies I made on 12 and 13, if I don’t make those putts I’ve got a pretty tight race."


Fowler gave his adoring gallery a moment of panic when he leaked his seven-iron tee shot into a water hazard at the par-three 17th.

But after taking a penalty stroke, he calmly negotiated the water with his third shot and sank a six-foot putt to salvage a bogey, before taking a victory stroll down the last, where another bogey proved almost meaningless.

"The wind was tough today," said Fowler. "I fought as hard as I could. I hit a lot of shots I thought were going to turn out good (but did not). It was blowing pretty good, so kept us on our toes."

Fellow Americans Gary Woodland and Morgan Hoffmann tied for second on eight-under, but the day belonged to one man, who will head to the Masters in April with a new spring in his step.

"There’s less pressure, less stress," said Fowler, who will jump from 14th in the world rankings to inside the top 10.

"I think this is something we needed going into Augusta and I like the spot were we’re at right now."

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Simon Evans)

source: news.abs-cbn.com