American Charley Hoffman, helped by some brilliant iron play down the stretch, on Sunday clinched his first PGA Tour title in four years with a one-shot victory at the US$6.1 million OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico.
Three strokes off the pace heading into the final round, Hoffman surged past fast-starting Danny Lee with two birdies after the turn on the way to a five-under-par 66 on the El Camaleon course at the ocean resort of Playa del Carmen.
Hoffman was afforded the luxury of a bogey at the last, finishing at 17-under 267, one stroke better than Shawn Stefani, who closed birdie-bogey for a 69 in pursuit of his first PGA Tour win.
Photo: AFP
New Zealander Lee, also hunting a maiden victory on the circuit, stormed into the lead with seven consecutive birdies from the third, but lost momentum after the turn to card a 67 for a share of third at 15 under with American Andres Gonzales (67).
Lee, who burst onto the world stage by winning the 2008 US amateur title before becoming the European Tour’s youngest ever champion, aged 18, at the 2009 Johnnie Walker Classic, launched his sizzling birdie blitz at the par-4 third.
The 24-year-old sank a 3m putt at the ninth to make it seven in a row, reaching the turn in seven-under 29 with a one-stroke lead.
Stefani reeled off three successive birdies from the fifth for an outward nine of 33 to stay in contention.
Lee, looking increasingly tense on the back nine, bogeyed the 12th, 15th and 18th as his victory hopes evaporated while Hoffman took control with birdies at the 13th and 16th, where he fired his approach to inside half a meter and knocked in the putt.
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