Svensson nails PGA breakthrough

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Canada’s Adam Svensson won his first PGA Tour title on Sunday, sinking clutch birdie putts on the 16th and 17th holes to capture the RSM Classic by two strokes.

The 28-year-old from British Columbia fired a bogey-free, sixunder par 64 to win a back-nine shootout by finishing 72 holes on 19-under 263 at Sea Island Golf Club on St. Simons Island, Georgia.

“It’s not even real right now. I’m just so happy,” Svensson said.

“I put so much work in. To win on the PGA Tour means everything to me.”

England’s Callum Tarren also fired a 64 to share second on 265 with Americans Sahith Theegala and Brian Harman.

Svensson, whose breakthrough came in his 70th PGA start, was among four sharing the lead before he rolled in a tension-packed 18-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole.

“I just tried to make no bogeys,” Svensson said.

“I didn’t even look at the scoreboard until maybe 16. I just said if I make no bogeys, I’m putting well, so that’s what I did. It’s just unbelievable.”

He followed by sinking a testy downhill putt from just beyond 10 feet at the par-3 17th.

“I was feeling pretty good over them,” Svensson said of his dramatic putts.

“That one at 17 I didn’t think was going to go in. Somehow the golf gods let it in.”