PGA TOUR
Valspar Championship
Burns Wins Valspar Championship In A Playoff
American Sam Burns buried a 35-foot birdie putt at the second playoff hole to win the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Florida. The 25-year-old became the second player (Paul Casey 2018 & 19) to successfully defend the Valspar title after claiming his first PGA Tour at the event 12 months ago. Burns joins Patrick Cantlay as only players to win three times on the PGA Tour since the 2021 Valspar Championship.
Burns outlasted compatriot Davis Riley in overtime. It was the fourth playoff at the Valspar Championship in the event’s 21-start history. Both players made a par at the first extra hole, which covered the 18th hole. The playoff then moved to the 16th hole, which kicks off the Copperhead Course’s tough three-hole closing stretch known as ‘The Snake Pit’. Burns lipped in his long-range birdie attempt. Riley missed his chance to extend the playoff with his 30-foot chip from the edge of the green rolling right of the cup.
Burns and Riley finished regulation play at 17-under. Burns carded a final round 2-under 69. The steady round included three birdies. His only bogey of the final day came at the par 3, 17th hole. The dropped shot opened the door for Riley, who moments later made a birdie at that hole to draw level with Burns. Playing in the final group, Riley had a birdie putt at the 72nd hole from 15 feet for his maiden PGA Tour win in just his 25th PGA Tour start.
Earlier in the day, Riley, aged 25, held a two-shot after opening his final round with four straight pars. He then suffered a devastating triple bogey eight at the par 5, 5th hole. He had gone the previous 34 holes without an over par score. Viktor Hovland at the 2020 Puerto Rico Open was the last player to win with a triple bogey in the final round. Riley regained his composure to post three birdies on his run home.
Riley set a new 54-hole tournament record at 18-under 195 after carding a 9-under 62 on Saturday. It was the PGA Tour rookie’s best score at a PGA Tour event by three shots.
Americans Justin Thomas and Matthew NeSmith finished at 16-under, one shot out of the playoff and in a share of third place. Thomas, aged 28, was looking for first victory since winning THE PLAYERS in 2021. The world No. 8 closed with a 1-under 70 to record his fifth top 10 finish in his eight starts on the PGA Tour this season. NeSmith tied the Copperhead Course record at Innisbrook with a 10-under 61 in round two. The American’s stunning bogey-free round set the tournament record for 36 holes giving him a two-shot lead going into the weekend. The 61 was the best score of the field on Friday by a staggering four shots. His 14-under 128 broke the 36-hole record at the Valspar Championship by two shots. NeSmith signed for a final round even par 71. The T3 finish was his best result on the PGA Tour from 72 starts.
England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and America’s Brian Harman both fired final rounds of 3-under 68 to get to 14-under and finish in a tie for fifth place.
Former world No. 1 Brooks Koepka produced the best closing round on Sunday. The 31-year-old poured in seven birdies en route to a 6-under 65. Koepka ended the event at 11-under and in a tie for 12th place.
World No. 2 Collin Morikawa was the highest-ranked player in the field. The two-time major champion was making his Valspar Championship debut. Morikawa faded over the weekend with rounds of 74 and 73 to fall way back in a tie for 68th place.
Jason Day, Mark Hensby and Cameron Percy were the only Australians in the field. None of the contingent from down under made the cut at 3-under for the weekend.
The PGA Tour moves to Texas in Florida for next week’s WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play staged at Austin Country Club. America’s Billy Horschel is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Valspar Championship
1. Sam Burns -17
2. Davis Riley -17
T3. Justin Thomas -16
T3. Matthew NeSmith -16
T5. Matt Fitzpatrick -14
T5. Brian Harman -14
T7. Adam Hadwin -12
T7. Sahith Theegala -12
T7. Stewart Cink -12
T7. Kevin Streelman -12
T7. Robert Streb -12
Australians
MC. Jason Day
MC. Mark Hensby
MC. Cameron Percy
Photo credit: Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images
