PGA TOUR
Malnati Scores Emotional Win At The Valspar Championship
Peter Malnati was overcome with emotion even before he finished out at the final green for his two-shot victory at the Valspar Championship. The 36-year-old American broke a winless drought of more than eight years since claiming the 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship. Malnati tapped in his final shot through tear-filled eyes displaying the magnitude of his win on a personal level. Adding to the touching feeling off the momentous moment, Malnati was joined by his two children and wife on the final green in a heartfelt family embrace. It was his second PGA TOUR victory. From his 259 starts on the PGA TOUR, Malnati only finished inside the top 10 on 12 occasions.
Malnati began the final round two shots behind Keith Mitchell. It was just the second time at the Valspar from his ten starts at the event Malnati played all four rounds after missing the cut eight times. Malnati opened Sunday with three consecutive pars and a bogey at the 4th hole. From that point, the world No. 184 played stunning golf. He made five unanswered birdies over the closing 13 holes including a clutch birdie at the tough 17th hole to move into the solo lead. Moments later Cameron Young made a bogey at the final hole to give Malnati a two-shot buffer playing the 72nd hole. Malnati closed out with a solid par to sign for a 4-under 67 to reach 12-under. With his win, Malnati will make his first trip to Augusta in a couple of weeks for The Masters, a place in this year’s remaining Signature Events and full TOUR status through to 2026.
Compatriot Young earned his seventh runner up result finishing at 10-under after a 3-under 68 final round. Young fired all four rounds in the 60s. The 26-year-old, who was the PGA TOUR Rookie of the Year in 2021-22, is still searching for his maiden PGA TOUR win.
PGA TOUR Rookie Chandler Phillips and Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes claimed a share of third place at 9-under.
Xander Schauffele jumped 29 places on the leaderboard into a tie for 5th place after firing a sensational 6-under 65 on Sunday. Schauffele finished at 8-under with Carl Yuan, Ryan Moore and Adam Hadwin.
Aaron Baddeley was the only Australian to make the cut. The 43-year-old veteran held the lead mid-way through the second round. Baddeley fell out of contention with a 3-over 74 on Saturday. The Victorian who owns four PGA TOUR titles, carded a 2-under 69 final round to finish at 4-under and in a tie for 17th place.
The PGA TOUR moves to Houston for next week’s Texas Children’s Houston Open to be staged at Memorial Park Golf Course. America’s Tony Finau is the defending champion.
Final Scores
1. Peter Malnati -12
2. Cameron Young -10
T3. Chandler Phillips -9
T3. Mackenzie Hughes -9
T5. Xander Schauffele -8
T5. Carl Yuan -8
T5. Ryan Moore -8
T5. Adam Hadwin -8
Australians
T17. Aaron Baddeley -4
MC. Harrison Endycott
MC. Min Woo Lee
Image Credit: Julio Aguilar/Getty Images
