MIAMI (AFP) – American Keith Mitchell sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the final hole Sunday to win an epic back-nine shootout, capturing his first US PGA title at the Honda Classic.
Mitchell, who began the last round with back-to-back bogeys, birdied four of the last seven holes in a final-round three-under par 67 to finish 72 holes at windy PGA National on nine-under 271.
That was enough for a one-stroke victory over Americans Brooks Koepka and Rickie Fowler.
“I’ve been watching them my whole life,” Mitchell said. “Just having my name next to theirs is an honor.”
Another US duo, Lucas Glover and Ryan Palmer, shared fourth on 273 and Fiji’s Vijay Singh another stroke adrift. South Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon and US 54-hole leader Wyndham Clark were on 275.
World number 162 Mitchell out-fought his rivals with a sizzling finish after stumbling at the start, a tap-in birdie at the par-5 third and seven-foot birdie putt at nine the sign of things to come.
‘’I’ve been close before and I let my emotions take over,’’ Mitchell said. ‘’I bogeyed the first couple of holes and I said, ‘Not again.’’’
