Matthieu Pavon set his sights on winning a Major to emulate French compatriot Celine Boutier after a dramatic win at the Farmers Insurance Open for the biggest title of his career.
Germany's Stephan Jaeger led by one stroke from Pavon and Nicolai Hojgaard going into the final round. And in a close contest, Jaeger and Hojgaard even had eagle putts on the last to set-up a potential play-off.
But Pavon pulled off a stunning birdie on the par 5 18th with a brilliant third from the rough to win the tournament by one shot on -13 after a three-under final round.
Pavon, who won his PGA Tour card last season on the DP World Tour, said: "It is amazing. It has been a long journey waiting seven years to win on the main tour back in Europe but I now finally have a win in America. I am glad I haven't cried yet but it must come.
"There is no better moment than winning here in America. I dreamt a lot of this since I was a kid. I have tried to copy Celine Boutier who has a Major (the 2023 Evian Championship) so let's dream about that now."
Farmers Insurance Open Leaderboard
- -13 Pavon
- -12 Højgaard
- -11 Lashley, Knapp, Jaeger
Updates from...
LOWRY HOLES OUT FROM 256 YARDS FOR 2 ON SIXTH
ALBATROSS FOR @ShaneLowryGolf! Are you kidding?! pic.twitter.com/FEZNihLOG7January 27, 2024
Shane Lowry might not win this competition but he is going to remember his final round after an albatross on the par 5 sixth to get to -5 overall. Lowry hit his drive 303 yards and still had 256 yards to go only for the Irishman to fire a fairway wood into the green which rolled against the flag, ran around the hole and went down. Amazing stuff! It was the first albatross at this tournament since 2016.
THOMAS DETRY WILL HOPE FOR BETTER LUCK TODAY
There's bad breaks, and then there's this. pic.twitter.com/0djs8tnsyWJanuary 26, 2024
Belgian Thomas Detry tees off shortly at -9 with a shot at the title and he will hope to get better breaks today after his tee shot at the par 3 11th yesterday ricocheted off a sprinkler head by the green to bounce into trouble and leave the pro to sign for a miserable bogey at the 213-yard hole.
MAX HOMA MAKES AN EARLY MOVE
The top of the leaderboard is dominated by Europeans but defending champion Max Homa is -4 today to get to -9 after eagling the par five sixth. The previous last two winners here have both come from five shots back so perhaps another title for the American Ryder Cup star could be on the cards here. Tony Finau is also at -9 after two birdies in his opening three holes.
Setting up eagle from 234 yards out 😲 Now just two shots back. Here comes @MaxHoma. pic.twitter.com/stNJEScJvRJanuary 27, 2024
LEADERS ARE UNDERWAY AT TORREY PINES IN SAN DIEGO
The final three-ball of Stephan Jaeger (-11), Matthieu Pavon (-10) and Nicolai Højgaard (-10) are underway after teeing off on the first. Jaeger and Pavon both missed the fairway on the right and found sand in nervy starts but hit fine second shots on to the green where Højgaard also made it regulation. Pavon dropped a shot though after three putting to slip to -9 while the other two made par.
MORE SAND FOR JAEGER OFF THE TEE
Jaeger has driven into the sand for the second successive hole off the tee on the 2nd but he has rescued the situation to tee up birdie with a fine bunker shot from 113 yards to get to -12 and establish a two shot lead on the short 388 yard second.
Nearly holed it from a fairway bunker!Stephan Jaeger leads by two @FarmersInsOpen. pic.twitter.com/3Y6ASOpYqeJanuary 27, 2024
LUDVIG ABERG YET TO CATCH ALIGHT TODAY
There are some front pins out there and soft greens giving good conditions for players to mount a charge. But European Ryder Cup star Aberg, who has already won on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour despite only turning pro last year, remains at -7 and even par for the day after four straight pars.
JAEGER LOOKS SET TO EXTEND LEAD AFTER FIRING TEE SHOT CLOSE
German leader Stephan Jaeger has extended his lead with a second successive birdie to get to -13 after stiffing his tee shot on the par three third from 191 yards out.
Stephan Jaeger has never won on TOUR.With shots like this, he's looking to change that @FarmersInsOpen. pic.twitter.com/nIDl4AWKfBJanuary 27, 2024
JAEGER LOOKING COMPOSED AFTER THRIVING DESPITE ROCKY START
Leader Stephan Jaeger has just found the fairway and fired in another close approach on the fourth after sticking his first two drives today into the sand. But he still made a birdie on the second and another at the third after his tee shot ran on to the green and finished stiff. The German failed to hole out from six foot on the fourth however and had to sign for a par as he missed a chance to take a four-shot lead.
LEADER JAEGER PULLS TEE SHOT ON FIFTH
Jaeger has made a storming start at -2 for four holes to get to -13 but he has missed the fairway by some distance at the par four fifth and is near the cart path with a tough approach ahead. The German managed to play up to the front of the green where he chipped and putted to make a par.
WHO WILL MOUNT A CHARGE?
Defending champion Max Homa looked liked he would be the man to trouble leader Jaeger earlier as he got to -4 after six holes but he has since slipped back to -2 after 11 holes to stand -7. Keep an eye out for Californian Xander Schauffele, the world No.5, who is -2 after six holes today and is climbing the leaderboard and is four shots back on -9.
FINAU UP INTO A TIE FOR SECOND
Another birdie for @TonyFinauGolf!He moves to T2 in Saturday's final round @FarmersInsOpen. pic.twitter.com/LXitBG82G7January 27, 2024
Finau gets to -3 for the day and to -8 in total with a birdie two on the par three eighth and is now starting to put Jaeger, who has never won on the main PGA TOUR before, under pressure.
FINAU SET TO HAVE ANOTHER BIRDIE LOOK AT THE PAR 5 NINTH
No player is yet to reach the par 5 ninth in regulation so far today but Finau hit his fairway wood to almost the fringe in two. His 288-yard second at the 597-yard hole teed up another birdie which he makes with a two putt from off the green to get to -4 at the turn and -11 in total.
NOW WE ARE GOING TO SEE JAEGER'S METTLE
Jaeger,34, has looked calm and composed at the top of the leaderboard but he now has a big-name player chasing him down in Tony Finau. Jaeger has never won in 128 starts on the PGA Tour before and it is going to be fascinating to see how he handles the pressure. He found the sand off the seventh tee before hitting the green - again - from the bunker and three putting for his first bogey.
TIGHT AT THE TOP AS FINAU'S PUTTING LOOKS SHAKY
Jaeger's three putt bogey at the seventh has opened the door wider for the chasing pack, including most notably Finau. But the American's putting stroke is not looking convincing. He might be -4 after 11 holes and -11 in total but putting is his Achilles heel and his stroke has looked jerky as he illustrated on the 11th when he just missed an eight-foot birdie putt.
CREDIT TO MATTHIEU PAVON AFTER OVERCOMING DIRE START
A new co-leader @FarmersInsOpen 👀@MatthieuPavon is making the most of today’s final round. pic.twitter.com/mZiFVSJLabJanuary 27, 2024
France's Matthieu Pavon is a PGA Tour rookie after winning his card through the DP World Tour last season. His title bid today got off to the worst start with a three-putt bogey on the first. But he has since recovered to stand -2 after eight holes - level with Jaeger on -12 in total after Pavon's fine birdie on the 169-yard par 3 eighth following a tee shot to five feet.
JAEGER AND PAVON BOTH CONVERT FOR BIRDIES ON NINTH
Jaeger had a putt for a four stroke lead earlier but is now level pegging with playing partner Pavon. The German's second to the 597-yard par 5 ninth has come up just short but he got up and down for a birdie after a cute chip. While co-leader Pavon stuck his third with a wedge in very close and tapped in to go to -13.
Back-to-back darts for @MatthieuPavon! He shares the lead with Stephan Jaeger heading to the final nine @FarmersInsOpen. https://t.co/0FP5hgsjC2 pic.twitter.com/atuQdeQsnAJanuary 27, 2024
ABERG CLIMBING UP LEADERBOARD
Ludvig Aberg cut a frustrated figure earlier when he was one-over after five holes but the Swede has since picked up four shots to get to -3 and -10 in total before dropping a shot on the 12th.
JAEGER AND PAVON BOTH ON THE TENTH IN REGULATION
Leading duo Jaeger and Pavon have taken different paths to the 10th green, from the fairway and bunker respectively, but they are both on the short stuff on the tenth at the 450-yard par four and walk off with pars to remain -2 and -3 today and -13 in total.
FINAU'S CHARGE FALTERS DUE TO POOR PUTTING
Finau's bid has stumbled on the back nine after he missed a short birdie putt on the 11th and then bogeyed the par 5 13th. His effort for par on the 13th never looked like going in. The commentators said the American has only made 12% of his putts from four-eight feet and is worst in the field from that distance, which is likely to prove very costly today.
JAEGER AND PAVON FIRE IN TEE SHOTS AT PAR 3 11TH
Our leaders both hit solid shots into the par 3 11th , which is playing 212 yards. Pavon was on the putting surface and Jaeger was just in the fringe after a shot which was bang on line but came up just short. They both putted up close and recorded a par to keep their lead at the top on -13.
PAVON HAS HIS EYES ON THE PRIZE
The Frenchman has been so solid today since an opening three-putt bogey. He has a tattoo on the top of his right hand saying: "the sweat that flows will become the tears of joy tomorrow." He is -3 today and on the 12th in regulation to ensure he made a par, while Jaeger missed a short par putt.
FINAU'S BID HIT AFTER SUCCESSIVE BOGEYS
Finau's hopes of posting a decent total for the clubhouse lead suffered a big blow with back-to-back bogeys on the 13th and 14th. Some of his short putts have been fairly shocking with efforts which don't even touch the cup. His woes with the flat stick have been very evident today. But the big man still has the shots as he underlined on the 15th with an approach which hit the cup and span back to tee up a birdie effort.....before you guessed it, Tony missed the putt. Ouch!
PAVON LOOKING COMPOSED AT THE TOP AFTER METEORIC RISE
Three months ago, an emotional @MatthieuPavon won for the first time on @DPWorldTour.The PGA TOUR rookie currently leads @FarmersInsOpen. pic.twitter.com/GhLH6hpmBWJanuary 27, 2024
Pavon has looked class since three-putting the first. He won't be able to reach the par 5 13th in two though after finding sand off the tee but he made it in regulation and made a decent par like Jaeger, who is just one shot back at -12. Pavon is -3 for the day and level par on the back nine after four straight pars.
TOUGH TEST AT 14TH FOR LEADER PAVON
Pavon, who plays a high fade, successfully found the fairway at the 439-yard par four 14th. The Frenchman,31, had a scare with his approach however which flew the green and nearly went into the hazard. Fortunately for the leader, he escaped and got up and down superbly to save par.
"The saliva that flows now will become the tears of joy tomorrow." A closer look @MatthieuPavon's inspiring tattoo. The Frenchman looks to secure his first TOUR victory in his rookie season. pic.twitter.com/wQ91V6FJdiJanuary 27, 2024
PAVON SMOKES SUPERB SHOT INTO 15th
Pavon had a chance to extend his lead to three shots with three holes left on the 15th where he hit a superb 170-yard approach shot in close at the par four which is 469 yards long. But Pavon, bidding to become the first Frenchman to win on the PGA Tour, rolled his birdie attempt just too firmly and it didn't drop from the high side as he had to settle for a par to stay two ahead of the pack.
PAVON FINDS SAND AT PAR 3 16TH BUT SALVAGES PAR
Ice in his veins 🧊@MatthieuPavon sinks the 23-footer for a clutch par save on No. 16 @FarmersInsOpen.The Frenchman is two holes away from his first PGA TOUR win. pic.twitter.com/ebScgTPOrUJanuary 27, 2024
Huge potential for change at the top of the leaderboard on the par 3 16th where leader Pavon found the righthand trap and overnight leader Jaeger , who is two shots back at -11, put his tee shot close. Pavon's bunker shot came up well short but he drained a gutsy 23-foot putt which prompted a fist-pump. Jaeger could only make par and the prospect of a two-shot swing evaporated.
JAEGER'S HOPES APPEAR TO HAVE GONE WITH LOST BALL ON 71st
Overnight leader Jaeger had a sniff of potentially cancelling out Pavon's lead at the 16th but now he is three off the tee and practically out of the title-race after losing a ball left off the 17th tee. Pavon meanwhile, after a brilliant putt on the 16th to save par, played a trademark high fade down the middle of the fairway of the penultimate hole. His second left the Frenchman with another long putt before he bogeyed the hole after missing a short putt to head to the last just one infront.
DRAMATIC FINISH AT TORREY PINES FOLLOWING PAVON'S RARE ERROR
Pavon made an uncharacteristic mistake on the 71st hole with a three putt from across the green. He now heads to the par 5 18th just one shot ahead of Nate Lashley, Jake Knapp and playing partner Nicolai Højgaard, who is -1 today and -11 in total. The Frenchman found the left rough off the tee and will likely have to lay up at the last with his second.
A bogey from 3 feet on 17. Matthieu Pavon heads to the 72nd hole with just a 1-shot lead. pic.twitter.com/jxe8jcatpBJanuary 28, 2024
PAVON NOW IN BIG DANGER OF BLOWING THIS
After finding the sand off the tee , Pavon has only managed to splash out of the trap into the rough and has a tough third shot ahead over water. A bogey will let in Lashley and Knapp in the clubhouse on -11 and potentially Jeager on -10 , who is on the green in two with a monster putt. While Nicolai Højgaard at -11 could still win this with something special after also finding the green. What a finish we have here.
PAVON LIKELY TO HAVE EIGHT FOOT PUTT FOR THE TITLE
Despite his struggles on the 18th, Pavon produced a brilliant approach with his third to eight feet to set up a likely birdie putt for the title. Jaeger and Hojgaard could potentially have a say too as they are on the green in two at -10 and -11 respectively. Hojgaard's eagle effort slides agonisingly by though leaving Pavon a putt to win it.
PAVON SINKS DRAMATIC EIGHT-FOOT PUTT FOR TITLE ON LAST
It is there - Matthieu Pavon is the toast of Torrey Pines after a superb birdie at the last to win the tournament.
It has been 117 years since a Frenchman won on TOUR. @MatthieuPavon ended the drought today @FarmersInsOpen 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/3XIJwnHs34January 28, 2024
