Rookie Jake Knapp held on to claim his maiden PGA Tour title, despite seeing his four-shot overnight lead wiped out early in the final round of the Mexico Open.
The 29-year-old American’s level-par 71 was enough to hold off the challenge of Finland’s Sami Valimaki, who hit a closing 69 to finish two shots back.
Knapp saw his four-shot buffer halved as he bogeyed two of the first three holes, Valimaki moving within one with a birdie on the fourth.
The Finn eagled the short par four seventh to draw level as Knapp claimed his first birdie of the day.
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He added just one more on the 14th, but Valimaki had dropped three shots by then and could not close the gap again.
Scotland’s Robert MacIntyre finished six shots back in a tie for sixth after a closing 69. Ireland’s Pádraig Harrington finished on four under in a tied for 52nd place.
Knapp’s win earns him a place at the Masters, PGA Championship and the five signature events remaining on the PGA Tour.
