Canada’s Adam Hadwin edged Patrick Cantlay to secure his maiden PGA Tour title at the Valspar Championship at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort.
As many expected, it all came down to the closing stretch – the Snake Pit – where Hadwin drove into the water and made double to allow Cantlay, playing on a medical exemption, to pull level for the first time in the final round.
‘I was still in the golf tournament,’ Hadwin said. ‘I was tied for the lead with two holes to go.’ Both Hadwin and Cantlay made par on 17 to set up a thrilling finish.
‘I told him, “Forget about it,”‘ Hadwin’s caddie Joe Cruz said. ‘”All you wanted was a chance and you still have that chance.” He said, “You’re right. I can’t be mad.” I think this proves we belong out here. I know he’s believed it ever since Palm Springs, and it’s cool to pull one out.’
Hadwin made par and signed for an even-par 71 and a 14-under total, while Cantlay finished with a bogey and a 68 after finding the greenside bunker with his second. Jim Herman (68) and Dominic Bozzelli (67) tied for third, two back.
The win saw Hadwin move to fourth in the FedExCup standings and it came with the bonus of a Masters’ invitation. Now ranked 51st in the world, up from 98, he has a spot at the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play, but will skip the event to get married. His honeymoon, however, will be delayed in order for him to take up his place in the field at Augusta in early April.
‘I went out there today and stuck to what I do best, and just hit some quality golf shots, and really made the game super easy outside of hole No. 16,’ Hadwin said after the win. ‘I feel a little fortunate after that hole to be sitting here with you, but I’ll certainly take it and I can’t wait for everything that comes with this win.’
Defending champion Charl Schwartzel finished five shots off the pace in sixth after a closing 68. Schwartzel opened with level par 36 front nine, but birdies at 11, 12, 17 and 18 saw him close with a 32 with just a bogey on 14 the blip on his solid back nine finish on Sunday.
Tyrone Van Aswegen closed with a 73 to finish in a share of 27th place.
Final leaderboard (USA unless noted):
270 – Adam Hadwin (CAN) 68-64-67-71
271 – Patrick Cantlay 71-66-66-68
272 – Dominic Bozzelli 67-68-70-67, Jim Herman 62-71-71-68
273 – Tony Finau 67-72-70-64
275 – Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 70-70-67-68
276 – Wesley Bryan 68-68-72-68, Henrik Stenson (SWE) 64-71-71-70
277 – Russell Henley 64-71-75-67, John Huh 69-70-69-69
278 – Jason Dufner 68-71-72-67, Keith Mitchell 69-70-71-68, Chad Campbell 71-69-69-69
279 – Graeme McDowell (NIR) 75-67-70-67, Alex Cejka (GER) 68-70-72-69, Nick Watney 70-69-70-70, J.T. Poston 69-70-69-71
280 – David Hearn (CAN) 68-74-68-70, Kevin Streelman 71-68-71-70, Ryan Moore 69-72-68-71, Lucas Glover 68-70-69-73
281 – Graham DeLaet (CAN) 71-71-72-67, Jonas Blixt (SWE) 69-71-72-69, Matt Kuchar 69-69-73-70, Danny Lee (NZL) 72-69-70-70, J.J. Henry 72-67-67-75
