Steele comes from behind to snag PGA Tour opener

NAPA, Calif. — Brendan Steele earned redemption at Silverado and won the Safeway Open for his first PGA Tour victory in more than five years.

Steele rallied from four shots behind in the rain Sunday and finished with three straight birdies for a 7-under 65, giving him a one-shot victory over a faltering Patton Kizzire.

A year ago at Silverado, Steele lost the 54-hole lead by shooting 40 on the back nine.

He two-putted from long range on the par-5 16th, holed an 18-foot birdie on the 17th and then made a 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th.

Kizzire struggled to find fairways on the back nine. Needing birdie on the par5 18th to force a playoff, he missed the green with a 9-iron and failed to chip in for birdie.

— GETTY IMAGES Brendan Steele reacts to his putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Safeway Open at the North Course of the Silverado Resort and Spa on Sunday in Napa, California. Steele won by one shot.