Wild swings as Holmes wins at Riviera
A marathon finish was only part of the challenge facing J.B. Holmes. He also had to contend with a four-shot deficit against Justin Thomas on greens that were increasingly bumpy with so many footprints over nine hours, and wind that made Riviera tougher than ever.
With one good break, two big putts and plenty of help from Thomas on the back nine, Holmes won the Genesis Open in Los Angeles on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title in nearly three years that earned him a trip back to the Masters.
So difficult was the final round of a 34-hole day that Holmes didn’t make a birdie over the last eight holes and closed with a 1-under-par 70.
“I knew it was going to be very difficult to shoot a low score,” Holmes said. “I needed some help from Justin.”
Thomas shot a 65 in the morning to complete the third round with a four-shot lead. Holmes said his caddie, Brandon Parsons, asked him at one point if he thought Thomas would get to 20-under-par, a score only two other players have reached at Riviera.
“I was like, ‘You mean this round?’ He was playing unbelievable there (in) that third round,” Holmes said.
Thomas played a big part in Holmes’ victory, however.
Thomas took 19 putts in a wild back nine that featured three two-shot swings because of putting.
Thomas, who closed with a 75, three-putted from long range on the 10th as Holmes made birdie for his first lead of the week. Holmes returned the favor on the next hole when he turned birdie into a shocker of a bogey, three-putting from 3 feet.
And then it was back to Thomas, and what turned out to be the decisive moment.
Holmes missed the 13th green to the right and chipped to 12 feet. Thomas was some 65 feet away and lagged his putt to 8 feet. Holmes made the par putt, and not only did Thomas miss his putt for par, he lipped out the next one for a double bogey.
That took Thomas from one ahead to one behind, and he trailed the rest of the way.
Holmes, who finished at 14-under 270, moved up from No. 100 to No. 42 in the world, making him eligible for the World Golf Championships in Mexico City this week. However, it has been a long stretch, and he chose not to play. As for that invitation to the Masters?
“Let me think about it,” he said with a grin. “No, it’s always good to go back.”
Tiger Woods shot 65 to finish his morning third round, though he was not in range of winning. Woods closed with a 72 in the afternoon, and tied for 15th.
“I got tired,” Woods said. “I don’t know if I’m the only one, but I definitely felt it today. Wind, cold. I was at 10 (under) and I slipped four shots coming in. That’s the way it goes.”
LPGA: Nelly Korda added to her family’s impressive sports pedigree with a win in the Women’s Australian Open.
Korda had three straight birdies to start the back nine in her final round to help claim a two-stroke victory with a 5under 67 at The Grange Golf Club in Adelaide, finishing with a 17-under 271. Defending champion Jin Young Ko was second after a 64.
Korda’s father, Petr, was an Australian Open tennis champion, winning the tournament in 1998. Her sister Jessica won the Australian Open golf event seven years ago.
Other events: Miguel Angel Jimenez won the PGA Tour Champions’ Chubb Classic in Naples, Fla., for his seventh tour title, beating Bernhard Langer and Olin Browne with a 5-foot par putt on the first hole of a playoff . ... San Jose State alum Mark Hubbard shot a 5-under 67 for a two-shot win over Stanford alum Maverick McNealy at the Web.com Tour’s Suncoast Classic in Lakewood, Ranch, Fla . ... Ryan Fox won the European Tour’s World Super 6 Perth (Australia) Lake Karrinyup, beating Spain’s Adrian Otaegui in the match-play final.