“You wonder if you’re ever going to do it again” – Massive underdog win as Irish challenges fade

Paddy Morgan

“It just feels so good.”

Peter Malnati started 2024 as the world number 238 and was facing into a ninth full season as a touring professional without a PGA triumph. On Sunday, in Florida, he was back in the winners’ circle, up to world no.65 and $1.5 million better off.

Sunday began with three Irish golfers all in the mix for titles, across three different championships – Shane Lowry, Seamus Power and Leona Maguire.

It was a grind for that Irish trio, though, as they ended up back with the chasing packs. None of them shot a closing round under par.

Malnati clinched the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Resort, holding off some big-hitters like Cam Young and Xander Schauffele. The victory, which launched him well up that world’s top 100 list, locked him in for the 2024 Masters and had him understandably emotional:

The vulnerability here is extraordinary. This interview rules.pic.twitter.com/X7QwOcHKGF
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) March 24, 2024

Seamus Power has final round to forget, at Valspar

Copperhead, the venue for 2024 Valspar Championship, is a par 71 that includes a dangerous three-hole stretch from 16 to 18 called ‘The Snake Pit’. Peter Malnati defanged it by going -1 in his final round, while Cameron Young was +1. It was enough to secure his two-stroke win.

This was the final event of a four-week swing in Florida, which included Scottie Scheffler winning The Players Championship. 54-hole leader Keith Mitchell started on -10 and took a two-shot lead into the final round. Seamus Power, at -8, shot rounds of 68,69,68 to play alongside leader Mitchell in Sunday’s final group. Power and Mitchell’s chances of winning came to an end due to playing the front
nine in a combined +6.

After nine holes Mackenzie Hughes was the leader on -9 and he stretched that with a 45-foot birdie putt at 10. Young had finished second six times on the PGA Tour and was looking to win his first tournament. Then we had Malnati, who was looking for a better finish at Valspar than his 81, seven days ago, at The Players.

Malnati started the back nine with three birdies in a row to take a one shot lead on -11 over Hughes. Chandler Phillips advanced to -10 after a birdie at 14, but gave one back before finishing joint third with Hughes.

Malnati had company at the top of leaderboard on -11 due to a birdie by Young at 14. Malnati held a six-foot birdie putt at 17 to take the lead on -12. Young’s wait for his first PGA Tour win continued as he dropped a shot at 18 and finished on -10. Malnati missed the fairway at 18 but a two-putt par was good enough to card 67, win the championship and earn a winner’s cheque of $1.5 million.

Young finished second on the PGA Tour for a seventh time and earned $915,600. Xander Schauffele, Ryan Moore, Adam Hadwin and Carl Yuan all finished tied fifth
on -8.

Power’s back nine of 38 included a double bogey at 13 to finish -4. The Waterford native finished tied 26th on -4. Mitchell also had a day to forget especially with shooting a disappointing round of 77. PGA Tour heads to Texas for two weeks in the lead up to Augusta, for The Masters.

Los Verdes was the venue for LPGA Tour’s Fir Hills Seripak Championship. Leona Maguire shot rounds of 71,65,72 and headed into day four on -5.

Maguire played the back nine in -1 to finish tied 13th on -4. Nelly Korda beat Ryann O’ Toole in a play-off and, in the process, returned to world number one.

Shane Lowry’s costly finish in Singapore

Laguna National Golf Resort was the venue for this week’s DP World Tour Porsche Singapore Classic and first event of Asian Swing.

It was a surprise to see LIV Tour’s Paul Casey returning to play in Singapore, and he would finish strong to claim a sixth place finish. Shane Lowry and Matthieu Pavon made the trip from The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass to play, and both were in the mix on Sunday.

Lowry began on -8 after shooting rounds of 68,69 and 66. He headed into day four five shots behind 54-hole leader David Micheluzzi, and played the final round with Haotong Li and Jesper Svensson.

Lowry moved up the leaderboard to -13 after 11 holes and was only one shot off the lead. Day four’s final group was Andy Sullivan (starting on -12), Sam Bairstow (-12) and solo leader David Micheluzzi (-13). The Aussie went as low as -14 but carded back-to-back double bogeys on his back nine and his challenge was over. Lowry’s chances, meanwhile, came to an end as he played holes 12 to 14 in +3.

Svensson took a three-shot lead at the top of leaderboard, on -16, due to an eagle at the 14th, however he bogeyed 15 and was only a shot clear when Casey and Kiradech Aphibarnrat reached -14.

The effects of playing four weeks in a row started to show as Lowry finished his round with a double bogey and a bogey, finishing tied for 29th. The 2019 Open winner will have a couple of weeks off before heading to Augusta.

Aphibarnrat, 153rd in DP World Tour rankings, tied the lead on -15 due to a birdie at 16. Casey found the water at the same hole, which resulted in a bogey but he closed out with pars to finish sixth.

Svensson shot an incredible round of 63 and set a clubhouse target of -17. Aphibarnrat held three great putts at 16, 17 and 18, however, to card a closing 64 and equal Svensson on -17.

The play-off between Svensson and Aphibarnrat took place at the 18th hole. It remained level after two holes until a par at the third decider was good enough for Svensson to be confirmed as winner.

It has been a great few months for Swedish golf with the rise of Ludvig Aberg, and Svensson winning his first DP World Tour event. Svensson received a winners cheque of €392,400.

TIGER WOODS ON PLAYING GOLF IN IRELAND

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