Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre missed out on an opportunity to win a 3rd PGA Tour title as he was overtaken by American JJ Spaun on the weather-hit Texas Open.
MacIntyre led by one shot on 14 beneath par when the third spherical belatedly ended on Sunday, after storms drastically curtailed Saturday’s play.
The world quantity 11 then shot a two-under 70 in his fourth spherical, helped considerably by an eagle on the par-four 17.
However he was unable to match the final-day surge from US Open champion Spaun and needed to accept a share of second place earlier than Masters week at Augusta.
Spaun’s closing 67 took him to 17 beneath for a one-shot win, with MacIntyre – who needed to play 30 holes on Sunday – unable to make the birdie he wanted at 18 to power a play-off.
The victory was 35-year-old Spaun’s second on the San Antonio occasion, the setting for his maiden PGA Tour title in 2022.
England’s Matt Wallace additionally completed on 16 beneath as he adopted up a third-round 64 with a 68 that gave him the clubhouse lead for a very long time, whereas American Michael Kim made it a three-way tie in second.
“This sport is so loopy,” Spaun instructed Sky Sports activities. “I’ve not been on the kind I needed to be primarily based off final season. It means loads to come back again and win right here at a spot that is been so good to me.
“There’s a lot that comes with successful such large occasions just like the US Open or some other main. I put loads of stress on myself this 12 months, exact opposite of the mantra from final 12 months that actually helped me, so I attempted to get again to that.
“I put much less stress on myself. It has been making an attempt, however sticking to that mantra has actually helped me.”
MacIntyre’s second-round lead had been lowered from 4 pictures to 2 by Swedish enjoying companion Ludvig Aberg by way of six holes when storms induced the third spherical to be suspended on Saturday.
The 29-year-old Scot was confronted with a heavy Sunday schedule however nonetheless seemed set to hold a two-shot lead into the ultimate spherical, solely to bogey the 18th for a 72, a irritating be aware on which to finish his third spherical.
MacIntyre then twice made birdie earlier than instantly dropping a shot in his remaining spherical, and Spaun sprinted to the clubhouse lead with three birdies on the again 9 plus an eagle on the driveable seventeenth.
MacIntyre impressively matched that eagle to rally his hopes of victory, however he hit a wayward second shot on 18 and couldn’t get shut sufficient to the pin along with his third.
His putt from 30 toes away ran vast, guaranteeing Spaun received a 3rd PGA Tour title of his profession.
There might be little time to have a good time victory for Spaun, or dwell on what might need been for MacIntyre, who started the event with rounds of 66 and 64, because the Masters, the primary main of the 12 months, begins on Thursday.
