Calgary Herald

Hoffman holds on to win Texas Open

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Charley Hoffman made a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole to win the Valero Texas Open on Sunday for his fourth PGA Tour victory.

The 39-year-old Hoffman closed with a 3-under 69 at TPC San Antonio for a one-stroke victory over Patrick Reed. Hoffman finished at 12- under 276 and earned $1,116,000.

“This was my hardest one,” Hoffman said after a vigorous fist-pump and leg kick when the winning putt fell at 18. “Grabbing that lead and holding on to it — it’s tough to keep the pedal down and give yourself birdie opportunit­ies and win golf tournament­s.”

Playing alongside Hoffman, Reed also birdied the par-5 18th for a 69. He missed birdie putts inside eight feet on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th.

Reed put the pressure on Hoffman with a tap-in birdie at the 18th after reaching the fringe on the 595-yard hole in two. His shot to the green came from the left-hand rough, and had to clear an oak tree and creek in front of the green.

Hoffman followed by hitting his third shot from a greenside bunker to set up his birdie.

“It was about a cup outside left,” Hoffman said. “I said to myself ‘Let’s finish this here. Let’s not play anymore.”’

Chad Collins was a career-best third at 10 under after a 69. He birdied four of the last five holes.

Third-round leader Ricky Barnes, looking for his first PGA Tour win in 222 tries, stumbled to a 74 to drop into a tie for fourth at 9 under with Kevin Chappell (68), Billy Horschel (70), Ryan Palmer (69) and Martin Piller (70). It was a career best for Piller, the husband of LPGA Tour player Gerina Piller.

David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., tied for 13th at 7 under while fellow Canadian Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was tied for 21st at 6 under.

Reed pulled within a shot of Hoffman with a 23-foot birdie putt from the fringe at 15. Hoffman missed a 10-foot birdie try on the hole.

Reed missed a bending, right-toleft putt from 7 feet that could have tied Hoffman at 16, and missed a straighter putt from about the same distance on the next hole. Hoffman took advantage of the misses.

“I definitely dodged bullets there,” Hoffman said. “I made my par saves and he missed his birdies, so I was able to keep my momentum.”

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