J.B. Holmes sank a three-foot bogey putt on the final hole to claim his first PGA Tour victory since 2008 by one stroke over Jim Furyk, closing with a 1-under-par 71 in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.
Holmes was a star in the making six years ago after winning what is now the Waste Management Phoenix Open in consecutive years before being sidetracked. He underwent two brain surgeries because of a structural defect in the cerebellum and then was sidelined elbow and ankle injuries.
The 32-year-old Holmes, who played college golf at Kentucky, built a three-stroke lead after 15 holes in the final round and pulled out the victory despite bogeys on two of his last three holes, making a clutch nine-foot par putt on the 17th.
“It feels great and I want to thank God for giving me the strength to do this, because it’s been a long journey for me,” said Holmes, who only regained full playing privileges on the PGA Tour last week, and with the victory earned a spot in the Players Championship this week.
“I’ve had my ups-and-downs, but I feel fortunate to be out here (on the PGA Tour) and to be able to get this one done.”
Furyk, who has won 16 times on the PGA Tour but not since the 2010 Tour Championship, closed with a bogey-free 65 that included a chip-in eagle from 62 feet on the 15th hole. He watched Holmes finish on television in the clubhouse to see if he might be involved in a playoff.
Martin Flores, who was tied for the lead after starting with scores of 67-68, closed with a 72 that included an 87-foot chip-in eagle on the 10th hole, but fell back with bogeys on the 13th and 18th holes to wind up two strokes back in third.
Jason Bohn, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour, finished four shots back in fourth after a 70, and reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose of England was another stroke back following a 71.
Rory McIlroy, who made the cut on the number four years ago and came back to claim his first PGA Tour victory at Quail Hollow by closing with a course-record tying 62, tried to do it again after barely making it to the weekend, but followed a third-round 65 with a 70 to tie for eighth.
Phil Mickelson, who was seeking his first top-10 finish of the season and shot 63 on Saturday to get within two shots of Holmes, struggled to a closing 76 that included a single birdie at the 13th hole and slid to a tie for 11th.
