Points captures his 3rd PGA Tour title
RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico - D.A. Points was never better at the start, and good enough at the end.
Points opened the final round of the Puerto Rico Open with five straight birdies, and then overcame a rugged stretch by saving pars and piling up enough birdies for a 6-under 66 on Sunday and a two-shot victory.
It was the third PGA Tour victory of his career, and felt just as sweet as when he won at Pebble Beach with Bill Murray as his partner, and four years ago at the Houston Open to get to the Masters.
This won’t send him to Augusta National because it was played opposite a World Golf Championship. It was no less important for Points, who lost his card a year ago and now has a full two-year exemption.
“I was just really proud of myself for finding some way — hitting about as low as I’ve ever been golf-wise and finding my out — and then to be able to hang in there and win today is something that I wasn’t sure if I had in me,” he said. “And I’m really proud of myself.”
Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen (64), Bill Lunde (68) and former U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau (67) tied for second at Coco Beach Golf and Country Club.
Sam Saunders, one week after missing the cut at the first Arnold Palmer Invitational without his grandfather there as the host, closed with a 65 and tied for fifth. Also tying for fifth was former U.S. Amateur champion Peter Uihlein, who plays the European Tour and was in Puerto Rico on a sponsor’s exemption.
That sends both of them to the Houston Open next week for finishing in the top 10. Six others in the top 10 were eligible for the Houston Open, where the winner gets an invitation to the Masters.
Chris Stroud, with his first 54-hole lead as he tried to win his first PGA Tour event in 277 starts, closed with a 71 and finished four shots behind.
Points closed with a birdie to finish at 20-under 268.
LPGA Tour
CARLSBAD, Calif. - Mirim Lee took the lead into the final round of the Kia Classic two years ago and was overhauled by Cristie Kerr, who won with a tournament record of 20-under.
Lee had the 54-hole lead again this year, and she wasn’t about to let anyone catch her.
Lee, of South Korea, shot a 7-under 65 to win by six strokes Sunday and tie Kerr’s tournament record.
It was her third LPGA Tour victory and first since winning two titles in 2014, her rookie year.
She played a bogey-free round at Aviara, with birdies on each of the oddnumbered holes on the front nine to reach 18-under.
Lee twice just missed putts that would have put her at 21-under. She left an eagle putt short on 16 and then rolled a 40-foot birdie putt even with the hole on 18.
She was so far ahead, she wasn’t tempted to think about the lead she lost in 2015. “I just thought I didn’t play very well at that time. Today, I tried not to think about it,” she said.
Lee was doused with water by fellow South Koreans Mi Jung Hur and In Gee Chun. “Only the winner can enjoy the moment so it was very special,” said Lee, who came into the final hole with a one-shot lead over Hur.
If Lee wins the season’s first major next weekend, the ANA Inspiration at Mission Hills in Rancho Mirage, she can get another wet celebration — by jumping into Poppie’s Pond.
Ryu (66) and Austin Ernst (67) tied for second at 14-under.