PGA TOUR
Valspar Championship
Burns Fires maiden PGA Tour Win
An emotional Sam Burns scored his first win on the PGA Tour at the Valspar Championship staged at Innisbrook Resort in Florida. It was his 76th start on tour.
The 24-year-old American produced a final round 3-under 68 to get to 17-under—one shot off the 72-hole tournament record set by Vijay Singh in 2004.
Burns held a share of the lead after the third round with compatriot Keegan Bradley at 14-under 199, tying the 54-hole tournament record. Bradley, who won the PGA Championship in 2011, took the early ascendency covering the front nine in 3-under 33. It was enough to take a one shot lead into the final nine holes. Bradley was searching for his fifth PGA Tour title and his first win since the 2018 BMW Championship.
Burns, who had previously enjoyed four top 10 finishes this season, joined level with Bradley after he poured in a birdie putt from 15 feet at the par 5, 11th hole. At this stage, both players were well clear of the field.
Bradley’s round came unstuck at the par 3, 13th hole when he found the water off the tee. The 34-year-old pitched his third shot to the green from the drop zone before signing for a double bogey five. It was a crushing blow. Two holes later, he made a bogey from the greenside bunker. The margin was three shots. Burns produced a stunning birdie at the 16th hole for a four-shot lead. The tournament was his. He ended up winning by three shots.
Burns fired rounds of 67, 63, 69 and 68 at Copperhead Course to reach 17-under. Bradley carded a final round 71 to finish outright second at 14-under.
Another American Cameron Tringale and Norwegian Viktor Hovland were one shot further back at 13 under and in a tie for third place. With his earnings from this event, Tringale becomes the leading money winner on the PGA Tour without a win. Hovland, one of the rising young stars in golf, shot an impressive final round 6-under 65. It was the best score by anyone in the field on Sunday.
England’s Paul Casey was searching for his third consecutive win in the event. However, the 43-year-old was unable to threaten the leaders. He finished at 5-under and in a tie for 26th place.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson finished way back in the field at 2-under and in a tie for 48th place.
Four Australians were in the field with no one advancing to the weekend.
On a side note, Jimmy Walker missed his tee time on Friday but still made the weekend. The 2016 PGA Champion incurred a two shot penalty after he arrived late for his morning tee time to slip to 4-over for the event. He then poured in five unanswered birdies to make the cut on the number at 1-under (72-69, 141).
The PGA Tour moves Charlotte, North Carolina for the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club. American Max Homa is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Valspar Championship
1. Sam Burns -17
2. Keegan Bradley -14
T3. Viktor Hovland -13
T3. Cameron Tringale -13
5. Abraham Ancer -12
T6. Vaughn Taylor -10
T6. Max homa -10
Australians
MC. Aaron Baddeley
MC. Rhein Gibson
MC. Cameron Percy
MC. Cameron Davis
Photo credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
