SAN ANTONIO (AP) — JJ Spawn came up with two big shots at the end of a long, rainy Sunday, making one for birdie and the other for eagle to extend his lead to a 5-under 67 and a one-shot victory at the Valero Texas Open, clinching his first title since last summer’s U.S. Open.
Spawn won for the second time at TPC San Antonio by a wide margin. His victory four years ago earned him a spot in the Masters. He is currently the US Open champion and has already secured a spot at Augusta National. But this was an important victory.
Despite starting seven games this year and not yet finishing in the top 20 — his best finish was a tie for 24th at The Players Championship — the 35-year-old Californian earned a solid win in tough conditions for his first major of the year.
“This game is just so crazy,” Spawn said. “I feel like I haven’t reached the form that I wanted based on last season and I’m just trying to take each day as it comes and accept what I have.”
“There’s a lot to be gained when you win big events like the U.S. Open and other majors,” he said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself and had a lot of expectations on me heading into the start of the year. I’ve been trying to get rid of The Players over the last few weeks and take the pressure off myself, which has been tough. But sticking to that mantra has really helped me.”
Robert McIntyre, who had led for most of the tournament, held a one-shot lead heading into the final round with an even-par 72 after 12 holes Sunday morning in the storm-delayed tournament. The group did not change to the final round due to finishing in further rain, but no lightning occurred to cause a delay.
Spown was among 12 other players when he pushed his tee shot to 3 feet for birdie on the par-3 16th hole and pushed the green to 10 feet for eagle on the 306-yard 17th hole.
He finished with a par and set a target of 17-under 271, finishing about an hour ahead of McIntyre and the final group. He was within striking distance when McIntyre, who was three shots behind with two shots left, drove on No. 17 and sunk an eagle putt 15 feet outside to move within one shot.
But the Scot hooked his second shot from the wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole (a par-5 with only 10 birdies in the final round), and even after being rescued from the temporarily immobilizing obstacle, McIntyre could only hit his wedge to 30 feet.
His birdie putts to win the playoff were short throughout. McIntyre scored 70 points, tied for second place with Matt Wallace (68 points) and Michael Kim (69 points).
It was his third win on the PGA Tour, two of which were at the Texas Open.
Ludvig Aberg enters the Masters having finished in the top 10 for the third year in a row, including at The Players Championship, where he gave up the lead on the back nine. He closed with a 70, tied for fifth with Andrew Putnam. Andrew Putnam needed a birdie on the 18th to make the playoff, but he hit a wedge into the back bunker for a bogey of 70.
