Malnati wins Valspar to earn Masters trip
PALM HARBOR, FLA. >> Peter Malnati got a great break and followed that with an even better shot Sunday, a 5-iron to 6 feet for birdie on the 17th hole that carried him to a 4-under 67 and a two-shot win at the Valspar Championship on Sunday and earn his first trip to the Masters.
Malnati tapped in for par on the final hole for only his second PGA Tour victory. He won by two over Cameron Young, who made it easier on him by taking bogey on the final hole for a 68. Young now has seven runner-up finishes without a win.
Malnati’s approach on the 16th went long and left into gnarly rough some 50 feet from the pin, leaving him a tough chip to try to save par and stay tied. But his foot was on a sprinkler head, which entitled him to a free drop. With the extra club length, he was able to drop it on the fringe and use putter, which he sent down to short range for par.
On the par-3 17th into wind, Malnati hit a laser to 6 feet for birdie. Up ahead, Young hit his drive well left, got it on the green and three-putted from 50 feet for bogey.
Malnati goes to the Masters for the first time and gets a two-year exemption.
He also is assured of getting into the remaining four $20 million signature events without any help.
LPGA TOUR>> Nelly Korda made bogey on her final two holes to fall into a playoff and atoned for it quickly, making a 12-foot birdie putt to beat Ryann O’Toole in the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship to return to No. 1 in the world.
Korda, who closed with a 2-under 69, won for the second time this year, both of them involving surprising collapses and amazing revivals.
Korda was playing for the first time since the end of January, when she lost four shots over three holes before an eagle-birdie finish to win. She seized control Sunday with an 18-foot eagle on the par-5 14th.
O’Toole holed a 20-foot par putt on the 18th for a 66, and that looked to be good only for second place until Korda’s bogey-bogey finish. They finished at 9-under 275, and the playoff ended quickly.
Korda, who now has 10 LPGA titles, replaces Lilia Vu at the top of the women’s world ranking. EUROPEAN TOUR >> Jesper Svensson of Sweden closed with a 9-under 63 and beat Kiradech Aphibarnrat on the third playoff hole to win the Porsche Singapore Classic for his first European tour title.
Svensson tapped in for par at the par-5 18th on the third extra hole. Aphibarnrat could only make bogey after his third shot rolled over the green and down the slope at the Laguna National Golf Resort Club.
Svensson matched the course record and was one shot better than his Thai opponent. Both finished on 17-under 271 to force a playoff. Both players made birdies on the first playoff hole and the matched pars on the second before the decisive third trip up the 18th.
Overnight leader David Micheluzzi finished in a share of seventh place after
a final-round 73 left him five shots behind. Shane Lowry had a 72, leaving the former British Open champion nine shots off the lead.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS >> Padraig Harrington won the Hoag Classic at windy Newport Beach Country Club for his seventh PGA Tour Champions victory, rebounding from a double bogey with birdies on the final two holes.
After driving left into trouble and dropping two strokes on the par-4 16th, Harrington made a downhill 15-footer on the par-3 17th and got an 8-footer to fall on the par-5 18th for a one-stroke victory over Thongchai Jaidee.