Martin posts first PGA Tour victory in Las Vegas

Overnight leader Martin briefly surrendered a big lead before curling in a 45-foot eagle putt at the par-five 16th to regain his advantage over the fast-finishing Streelman at the TPC Summerlin in Nevada.

Martin posts first PGA Tour victory in Las Vegas

(Reuters)





Martin punctuated the victory with a birdie at the final hole to card 68 and finish at 20-under-par 264 for his first PGA Tour victory in his 56th start.

Streelman, who had recorded five birdies in six holes to charge into contention, missed a six-foot birdie putt at the last, moments after Martin's eagle at the 16th, to finish with a 65 and on 18-under-par 266.

"I didn't hit it hard enough," Streelman said. "I had a left edge putt (but) it broke off on me."

Briton Russell Knox was third on 16-under.

"It was an awesome way to finish, four-under in the last four holes," Martin told Golf Channel after securing $1.08 million (671,201 pounds) and an invitation to next year's Masters.

"My heart was beating out of my chest (after the eagle). I'm glad I looked calm. I didn't feel like I had much going all day but that was huge."

Martin, the 2009 U.S. Amateur runner-up, had never led into the final round on tour, though he had finished third three times and was pleased to have continued his incremental improvement to finally clinch a title.

"I've always tried to get a little bit better every year and I think this is the next step," he said.

Streelman, meanwhile, could not quite emulate the charge he produced at the Travelers Championship in June, when he birdied the final seven holes to win, a PGA Tour record.

"It was kind of like the Travelers," he said of Sunday's round.

"I needed to make as many (birdies) as possible as quickly as possible, so I just kept attacking and hit some really good putts."













(Reporting By Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Greg Stutchbury)


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: Reuters


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world