Wearing a yellow golf ball and a bucket hat, Peter Malnati started the day at the Valspar Championship with a two-shot lead over 54-hole leader Keith Mitchell.
The day ended in tears for Malnati, his first PGA Tour win since 2015. The win gives him much-needed security on tour and will also receive his first invitation to Augusta National.
Malnati, who is currently a member of the PGA Tour Policy Committee, shot a 4-under 68 on Sunday, winning by two strokes over Cameron Young at 12 under.
Currently ranked 184th in the Official World Golf Rankings, Malnati has never finished higher than 143rd in his career. But this week’s win could change that.
That’s why Mr. Malnati has always been an advocate of journeymen during his time on the board. He has also freely expressed his opinions on the PGA Tour and has been in the news for whether his golfers receive stock as opposed to his play.
Sunday’s final round didn’t get off to a great start. He started with three pars, but missed a 5-footer on the par-3 fourth hole for par. At this moment, his chances of victory seemed to have diminished, but his chances of victory at Innisbrook’s Copperhead, widely known as one of the most challenging and unpredictable courses on the PGA Tour, were Anything can happen on the course.
Two holes later, on the par-4 sixth, Malnati’s chances of victory increased. He hit a 15-footer for birdie and was suddenly back in the standings at 8 under.
With Mitchell stumbling right in front of him, the tournament could have been won by anyone. But Malnati had three consecutive birdies on the 10th, 11th, and 12th holes to give him the best chance for victory.
Malnati thus took the sole lead with a total of 11 under par. 15 foot birdie putt I found the bottom of the cup at 12 o’clock.
Minutes later, Young was tied with Malnati at 11 under, and it looked as if the two were destined for an iconic finish in Florida.
Then, on the course’s most difficult hole, the par-4 16th, Malnati hit his second shot just over the green. His ball was in a nasty lie and bogey was coming.
But often, winning a golf tournament requires a lucky bounce or a good break.
Malnati hasn’t won many awards during his PGA Tour career. took a meaningful break On the 16th green. His ball came to rest near the sprinkler head, and the rules official granted Malnati relief.
Malnati thus gained a free drop and with it a vastly improved lie. He calmly rose and fell to stay at 11 under.
Meanwhile, Young took the lead on the 18th hole and missed his tee shot, resulting in bogey.
Malnati therefore sensed an opportunity on the 17th tee and made the most of it. He stuck his tee shot to 6 feet, made the putt, and walked to the 18th hole with a two-stroke lead.
At the end, she made a par without any stress and cried tears of joy.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
