Grace cemented an already-strong reputation from last year’s performance at the major championships (two top fives) with his first win on USA soil.
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“I think I’m just a freak like everybody else”, said Els who finished T17.
Knox broke in to the world’s top 50 with victory at last year’s WGC-HSBC Champions and was also a runner-up at the OHL Classic, with the 30-year-old delighted with his form ahead of a potentially busy year.
“When I got to 12 and 13 where I made a couple of nice putts, I knew I was in there with a chance”, said Grace. “And I’m excited for things to start”. Grace then birdied holes 9, 12 and 13 before dropping one shot on the par-3 17th.
Scotland’s Russell Knox joined Donald in second with a final-day 67. He began the day seven-under and ended there, too, after a round that included two birdies and two bogeys in a four-hole stretch. He stumbled at the next hole as he recorded a bogey after his tee shot found the water, but was level with Grace after making a birdie at the ninth. The Spaniard had four birdies but also a bogey on the second hole, followed by a 6 on the par-3 third after he hit the bunker. The Englishman finished three shots behind victor Jim Furyk in 2010, lost to Brandt Snedeker in a playoff in 2011, was two shots behind champion Graeme McDowell in 2013 and was bested by Matt Kuchar’s bunker chip-in shot for birdie on No. 18 in 2014. The Australian, who hit a season-worst 79 on Saturday, admitted to being worn out, but was able to finish eight back and head into a week’s break on a positive note. “Leading doesn’t seem to be working out for me”, Donald said.
Bryson DeChambeau, the former SMU star who won the NCAA and U.S. Amateur previous year, tied for fourth in his first event since turning pro, four shots behind Grace after a 68.
“I’ve had three great rounds and just one really, really poor round that put me out of the tournament”, Day said.
His finish was his third round in the 70s this week. I’m just like my father trying to get another five yards and like any other guy on tour thinking what to do, how to feel comfortable.
Paul Goydos had a 67 to finish third at 10 under.
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Andrew Johnston of England shot a one-under 70 at Valderrama on Sunday to win the Spanish Open for his first European Tour victory. He bettered par in three of the four rounds and tied for fourth. “It was a decision to come out full-time at the end of past year”. He kick-started the round with a birdie on the wind-swept, lighthouse 18th, rolling in a 10-footer.Donald was a stroke behind when the round started and quickly moved up with three birdies on his first eight holes to reach eight under. Barb Mucha was second after a 73, and Jane Crafter was another stroke back after a 74.
