Canadian golfer Corey Conners wins Texas Open with good ball-striking
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Corey Conners posing with the winner's trophy after winning the Texas Open at TPC San Antonio.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LOS ANGELES – Corey Conners warmed up for his sixth US Masters appearance with a victory in the Texas Open, posting a bogey-free 68 on Sunday to capture his second US PGA Tour title in the same event where he won his first in 2019.
The Canadian’s 15-under total of 273 gave him a one-stroke win over American Sam Stevens. The latter piled the pressure late on in his bid to earn a first US PGA Tour title and an invitation to the first Major of the year, which starts on Thursday at Augusta National.
Conners started the day one stroke behind American Patrick Rodgers, who was also chasing a first PGA Tour title and Masters invitation.
As Rodgers struggled on the front nine at windy TPC San Antonio, Conners smoothly took control.
The 31-year-old made a three-foot birdie at the second hole and a five-footer at the sixth, taking firm control with an 18-foot birdie putt from the fringe at the ninth that moved him to 14 under.
Unable to take advantage of the par-five 14th, where he saved par from a greenside bunker, Conners pushed his lead to three shots with a 17-foot birdie at No. 15.
Three pars in the last three holes proved enough to get the job done.
“I was really solid all day,” Conners said. “It was a battle out here for sure, the conditions were not easy.
“Struck the ball really, really well, gave myself a lot of looks, kept things under control. I can’t believe I got my second win here.”
It was a confidence-building win as Conners heads to Augusta, where he finished tied for sixth in 2022.
While Rodgers’ challenge faded with four front-nine bogeys in a 73 that left him in fifth place, Stevens made a strong bid with a 66 that included two eagles and four birdies with two bogeys.
“A little disappointed, I played great today,” he said. “The right things happened – made the putts when I needed to make them, hit a few great shots when I needed to.
“It’s easy to look back and wish you had one more, but that’s all right.”
Brooks Koepka will also ride into the Masters on the momentum of a victory. He fired a three-under 68 to stave off Sebastian Munoz of Colombia and win LIV Golf Orlando by one stroke on Sunday in Winter Garden, Florida.
Koepka finished the three-day event at 15-under 198. The four-time Major winner became the first player to win two LIV events after taking the LIV Golf Invitational Jeddah last October in Saudi Arabia.
“I’ve been playing good for a few weeks,” the 32-year-old American said. “It just hasn’t really shown on the scorecard, making dumb mistakes. It was nice to come out this week and play mistake-free pretty much.”
At No. 18, Munoz (66) missed a long putt for birdie that would have forced a play-off. AFP, REUTERS
