For Charley Hoffman, it had been never on Sunday this season, until now.
Hoffman sank a nine-foot birdie putt on the final hole to cap a three-under-par 69 and claim a one-stroke victory over Patrick Reed in the Valero Texas Open on the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio.
“Finally; it’s about time,” said Hoffman, who was averaging 74.75 in the final round this season, and after squandering some good chances to win he at last claimed his fourth victory on the PGA Tour. “After being in contention every for week for the last month and not being able to get it done in the last round, that’s not me. It was nice to make that last one. I’m happy.
” … I had good feelings coming into this week and knew I needed to close the door. I knew I was close coming into the back nine and I needed to make a few birdies to have a chance coming in. along with a couple of par saves. To close the door like I did, it’s a very good, gratifying feeling.”
Hoffman, from Poway and UNLV, made a bogey on the third hole in the final round but then played the last 15 holes in a bogey-free 4-under to win for the first time since the 2014 OHL Classic at Mayakoba.
Reed, a native of San Antonio, made birdies on two of the last four holes, but his 69 left him barely short as he tried to claim his fifth victory on the circuit. He missed a nine-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole and a seven-footer for birdie on the 17th.
Then Reed almost holed a 77-foot eagle chip on the last hole before tapping in for a birdie.
Chad Collins also closed with a 69 and was two shots back in solo third, while 54-hole leader Ricky Barnes of Stockton, seeking his first PGA Tour victory in his 122nd start, struggled to a 74.
Barnes, the 2002 U.S. Amateur champion, wound up three strokes behind in a tie for fourth with Kevin Chappell (68) of Fresno and UCLA, Ryan Palmer (69), Martin Piller (70) and Billy Horschel (70).
Branden Grace of South Africa, who won for the first time on the PGA Tour last week in the RBC Heritage, shot 67 and was another shot down in a tie for ninth with Harold Varner III (69), Tom Hoge (65) and Jon Curran (71).
