Billy Hurley III has been through tougher times, so holding on to claim his first PGA Tour victory must have felt like a walk in the park.
The 34-year-old graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, who served five years in the Navy afterward, closed with a 2-under-par 69 to capture the Quicken Loans National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., by three strokes over Vijay Singh of Fiji.
“I said it yesterday, I couldn’t think of a better tournament for my first PGA Tour win,” said Hurley, who still is grieving 10 months after his father committed suicide. “I’m just thrilled to have gotten it done today.
“It’s been a hard year. It’s been a really hard year, so it’s nice to have something go well.”
With Singh closing in, Hurley chipped in from 35 yards on the 15th hole for a birdie and made his walk on the last two holes stress-free by holing a 27-foot birdie putt at No. 16.
Singh, 53, trying to become the oldest winner in PGA Tour history, shot 65, while Jon Rahm, 21, of Spain and Arizona State, posted a 70 to wind up his first event as a pro four shots behind in a tie for third with Bill Haas, the 2013 National champion, who came in with a 68.
“Billy played well,” said Singh, the three-time major champion who claimed his 34th and last PGA Tour victory in the 2008 Deutsche Bank Championship. “He’s been playing well all week. You can see he’s under control, and it’s nice to see him play well and not lose it actually at the end of the tournament.”
Ernie Els of South Africa, who won the 1997 U.S. Open at Congressional, finished another stroke behind in fifth after a 72, Webb Simpson was five strokes down in sixth following a 71, and rookie Harold Varner III wound up six back in seventh after a 70.
Hurley, Singh, Rahm and Varner earned spots in the Open Championship next month at Royal Troon.
Rickie Fowler of Murrieta, the top-ranked player in the field at No. 6 in the world, started the tournament with 68-68, but played the weekend in 73-74 and skidded to a tie for 44th after missing the cut in his three previous tournaments.
