Sam Burns (USA) won the PGA Tour Valspa Championship (total prize money of $7.8 million) for the second year in a row.
Burns overtook Davis Riley (USA) following overtime on the final day of the event held at the Innisbrook Resort Copperhead Course (par 71) in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA on the 21st (Korean time).
It is the second consecutive loss following last year.
It is the second time to win the Valspa Championship twice in a row following 2018 champion Paul Casey (England).
He has won two of his three career victories in this tournament.
The prize money for the winner is $1,400,000.
Burns, who has risen to second place in the FedEx Cup ranking, is expected to jump from 17th to 10th in the world rankings.
“It was crazy,” Burns said.
It was a tough game.
“I’m so happy.” Riley did well.
I respect you,” he praised.
Burns, who cut two strokes in the final round, finished the fourth round with Riley, who lost one stroke, and tied for a lead (17-under 267) and went into overtime.
The first overtime at the 18th hole (par 4) was a par draw, and in the second overtime at the 16th (par 4), Burns scored a 10m birdie putt to divide the game.
The 16th to 18th holes, called the ‘snake pit’, the most difficult on the Copperhead course where the tournament was held, were also the winners in this tournament.
Burns, who took the lead by two strokes by catching three birdies without bogey until the 16th hole, put the ball on the green following 3 times on the 17th hole (par 3) and was in danger of a double bogey.
The tee shot fell into the bunker next to the green, and the bunker shot was short and did not reach the green.
The third shot was long, leaving a 3m bogey putt.
Burns put this putt and did minimal damage.
After chasing, Riley hit a terrific tee shot on the 17th hole, caught a 2m birdie, and took the lead.
After paring the 18th hole, Burns and Riley played their first overtime on the 18th.
After the second shot fell into the greenside bunker, Riley pared the bunker shot to 1m of the hole, and Burns’ 9m birdie putt also missed the hole.
In the second overtime on the 16th hole, Burns put a 10m birdie putt.
The ball went around the hole once.
Rookie Riley, who entered the final round with a two-stroke lead, was dissatisfied with the triple bogey on the 5th hole (par 5).
Riley, who lost three strokes at once and was pushed out of the race for the championship, showed her back to catch three birdies and led the game to overtime, but might not get over the final hurdle.
After two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour last year and playing on the PGA Tour starting this season, Riley, ranked 399th in the world, had to be content with her career best performance and $85,200 prize money.
Justin Thomas (USA) and Matthew Nessmith (USA) with 14 wins were unable to join the overtime due to one stroke less.
Noh Seung-yeol (31), who cut two strokes, was tied for 39th (5-under par 279).
It is the best result of the year, surpassing the tie for 42nd place in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.
His best performance this season was tied for 30th at the Bermuda Championship last October.
Colin Morikawa (USA), second in the world rankings, was tied for 68th (1 over par 285 strokes), so the opportunity to rise to the world rankings was lost.
/yunhap news
