Monday, March 25, 2019

Valspar Championship: Paul Casey retains title with exciting win in Florida



Paul Casey became the first man to retain the Valspar Championship after an enthralling final day in Florida.


Casey, 41, led by one overnight but dropped three shots on the opening nine as a pack of players applied pressure.

The Englishman was level with Jason Kokrak at eight under on the 18th but the American made bogey, thus Casey needed a par four at the last to win.

He found a bunker off the tee but hit the green from there and two-putted for a first win since last year's victory.

"It feels great," said Casey, who made bogey on 17 to fall back to eight under alongside Kokrak. "It was messy but this course was so hardt and I did make mistakes. Looking at 72 holes, it was difficult work."

Casey's victory means European golfers have won the past three PGA Tour events, following Rory McIlroy's victory at the Players Championship and Francesco Molinari's success at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The Briton was one clear of world number one Dustin Johnson going into the final round but his American playing partner started badly, dropping shots on the third and fourth holes in what proved a three-over par round containing no birdies.

Instead, pressure came from South African Louis Oosthuizen, who shot a round of two under to take the clubhouse lead on seven under.

Casey, who was one over for his final round, added: "In my mind, it was like I was against the world number one - so beat him and I've got it. It turned out to be a very different scenario and I feel so happy right now."

He had waited more than three years for a victory before edging out Tiger Woods and Patrick Reed to take last year's title by a single shot and now has three PGA Tour wins.

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