Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Casey ends his winning drought
PAUL Casey won his first PGA Tour event since 2009 in the Valspar Championship as Tiger Woods came up just short in his own remarkable bid for an overdue victory.
Casey carded a final round 65 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort to set a clubhouse target of 10 under par, which American Ryder Cup star Patrick Reed looked set to match before he bogeyed the final hole.
Woods was two behind with three holes to play, Copperhead’s so-called “Snake Pit”, but holed from 40 feet for an unlikely birdie on the 17th and had a similar distance on the last to force a play-off.
However, the 14-time Major winner, playing just his fourth PGA Tour event since undergoing spinal fusion surgery last April, was unable to repeat the feat and had to settle for a share of second place.
“It was a very good week,” the 42-year-old said. “I’ve got a little bit better since the last time I played a couple of weeks ago and it was a very difficult week, tough conditions on a tough golf course, very demanding. I thought I held up really well.”
Asked how he felt being in contention for a first win since August 2013, Woods added: “It felt comfortable. I remember it and, on top of that, my game’s sharp and so it was a good day.
“Unfor tunately, I j ust didn’t hit the ball close enough to make a few putts. I missed a short one for par at four and should have birdied 14. Those mistakes got me this week.”