FORT WORTH, United States — American Chris Kirk coolly got up and down from off the green at the 18th hole to salvage par and clinch his fourth PGA Tour title by one shot Sunday at the $6.5 million Crowne Plaza Invitational in Fort Worth, Texas. After watching playing partner Brandt Snedeker narrowly miss a 12-footer for birdie at the last, Kirk sank a clutch seven-foot par putt to seal victory with a closing four-under 66 at a rain-saturated Colonial Country Club.
That left Kirk at 12-under 268 after an intriguing last-day shootout at Colonial where five players held at least a share of the lead in the final round.
“Unbelievable, to be a part of the history of this tournament is just amazing to me,” Kirk told CBS Sports after adding his name to a list of winners at Colonial where golfing great and Fort Worth resident Ben Hogan triumphed five times.
“I've always loved this golf course and this has been my favorite tournament on the tour. “I didn't really feel like I was swinging that great early on in the week but somehow I was able to get it done,” said the 30-year-old, who never relinquished the lead after sinking a birdie putt at the 15th. Asked if winning on the PGA Tour was becoming any easier, Kirk replied: “Absolutely not. I was as nervous as I have ever been today, for sure. Those up-and-downs the last couple of holes, and especially making that putt on 18, was pretty sweet.”
Snedeker signed off with a 67 to share second place at 11 under with fellow Americans Jason Bohn, who fired a best-of-the-day 63, and Masters champion Jordan Spieth (65).
“Very disappointed,” said Snedeker. “I played great and just didn't make putts on the last three holes like you are supposed to to win golf tournaments.”
American Kevin Na, who had been a stroke in front overnight, briefly stretched his lead to three with a birdie-birdie start but his title bid unravelled when he followed a bogey at the third with a double at the ninth.
Na finished with a 72 to share 10th place at nine under. The start to the final round was delayed by three hours due to thunderstorms, and improved lies were permitted from anywhere on the par-70 layout after just under two inches of rain had saturated the course since Saturday afternoon.
Montgomerie retains title
Colin Montgomerie of Scotland retained his Senior PGA Championship crown by a commanding four shots Sunday at French Lick, Indiana as he earned his third major title in the over-50 ranks.
Three ahead overnight, Montgomerie rebounded from a bogey on the opening hole with a superb display on the challenging Pete Dye course at the French Lick Resort, piling up six birdies and just two more bogeys on the way to a three-under-par 69.
That left the 51-year-old Scot at eight-under 280, four strokes ahead of Mexico's Esteban Toledo who closed with a 69 on a blustery afternoon.
Woody Austin carded a 69 to finish alone in third place at three under, one stroke better than fellow Americans Brian Henninger (71) and Scott Verplank (71). — Agencies
