Viktor Hovland hit three birdies in his final five holes to reel in Justin Thomas and win the Valspar Championship in Florida on Sunday.
The Norwegian had missed the cut in his previous three tournaments but carded a four-under 67 to beat American Thomas by one shot and claim a seventh PGA Tour title.
A run of seven birdies through 15 holes seemingly put Thomas on course for victory, but bogeys at 16 and 18 saw him slip two shots behind Hovland, who could even afford a bogey at 18.
It is 27-year-old Hovland’s first PGA win since the 2023 Tour Championship in Atlanta.
“It’s still kind of sinking in,” he said. “I think when JT made a birdie on 15 and he was three shots ahead, I still just felt really calm and I wasn’t really stressed.
“I just hit good shots and made some putts and it was awesome.”
American Jacob Bridgeman, tournament leader at the halfway stage, carded a final-round 69 to finish one shot further back in third.
Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune and American pair Bud Cauley and Billy Horschel finished tied for fourth place at eight under.
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