South African Charl Schwartzel won the PGA Tour Valspar Championship on the Copperhead course, Palm Harbour, after beating American Bill Haas on the first the play-off hole.
Schwartzel posted a final round of 67 including six birdies, which was the best round of the day on the difficult Copperhead course. This magnificent round made up ground between Schwartzel and 54-hole leader Bill Haas at eight under par.
Ryder Cup hopeful Haas started the day with a birdie early in his round, after he confidently holed out from 30ft on the second hole. With six holes to play Haas looked comfortable with a three-shot lead, notable birdies at holes 11 and 12, but with his fourth bogey of the day at 16 Haas set the score in the clubhouse at seven under par.
Schwartzel the two-time PGA Tour champion successfully navigated himself around the treacherous 16th, 17th and 18th holes at the ‘Snake Pit’. The 475-yard dogleg, par four, 16th hole is the toughest hole on the course averaging at +309 over par. However, the South African scored par on sixteen followed by a tremendous birdie on seventeen to take him to a total of seven under par. This was unlike Haas who bogeyed the 16th.
Tied for the lead at seven under par both Schwartzel and Haas headed back to the 18th tee for the playoff. Like their contrasting 16th hole their tee shots dramatically differed. Schwartzel found the centre of the fairway with a long iron and then the heart of the green, whilst the American blocked his shot with Driver to the left rough and found a greenside bunker with his second.
Haas then missed his par save from 20 feet and gave Schwartzel two putts for the hole and championship, which he safely did. This gave the 2011 Masters champion his 15th career victory and second of 2016, after his early win at the Tshwane Open in February.
Defending champion Jordan Spieth opened the tournament with a poor round of 76, but bounced back with an inspired second round of 68 to make the cut on Friday and finishing tied 18th for the tournament after an average round of 72 on the final day.
Ultimately though it was amateur Lee McCoy who stole the show finishing in 4th position on his own, after an excellent round of four under. The 22-year-old American has made a name for himself at the Valspar Championship by playing some breathtaking golf, beating his final round partner world number one Jordan Spieth.
McCoy, a senior at the University of Georgia follows a long line of Georgia Bulldogs to become household names on the PGA Tour. Bubba Watson, Kevin Kisner, Chris Kirk and Russell Henley are all former Georgia Bulldogs and have grown into big manes and big contenders on tour.
McCoy carded a final round 69 which was impressive on a tough final day, most notably holing a 30ft birdie putt on the 12th as well as opening with a pair of birdies. This placed him ahead of early contender Graham DeLaet who shot a round of 75 and ahead of Augusta resident Charles Howell III.
