LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Corey Conners warmed up for his sixth 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.
Conners’ 15-under-par total of 273 gave him a one-stroke win over American Sam Stevens, who piled the pressure on late in his bid to earn a first US PGA Tour title and an invitation to the first major of the year that starts at Augusta National on Thursday.
Canada’s 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.
Conners made a three-foot birdie at the second 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 15, his three pars in the last three holes proving enough to get the job done.
