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James Nursey

Peter Malnati Wins Valspar Championship And Claims First PGA Tour Title Since November 2015

Keith Mitchell Mackenzie Hughes Carl Yuan Xander Schauffele Cameron Young Chandler Phillips Peter Malnati Robby Shelton PGA Tour Seamus Power
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Peter Malnati fought back tears after celebrating his first win in almost a decade as he won the Valspar Championship.

Malnati's victory, after a closing 67 for a -12 total, saw the golfer wipe away tears as he recorded just his second PGA Tour win after Cameron Young bogeyed the last to finish runner-up for a seventh time.

Nine years after his first win, dad-of-two Malnati reflected: "I told myself I was going to do my best on every shot. I was so nervous coming down the stretch. You wonder if you are ever going to do it again. It has got harder with the level of talent and guys coming out aged 20 years old who are so good.

"So to have this moment it feels so amazing. It was so cool. My family believes in me. My caddie has been loyal and I am so thankful. This is my dream job and it is amazing but it is hard and this feels so good."

Malnati thrived as overnight leader Keith Mitchell collapsed badly with a 77 and Mackenzie Hughes was unable to hold on to the lead.

VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD

  • -12 Malnati
  • -10 Young
  • -9 Phillips , Hughes
  • -8  Schauffele, Yuan, Moore, Hadwin

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Updates from...

Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's live final-round coverage of the Valspar Championship at the Copperhead Course, Innisbrook Resort, Florida.

Keith Mitchell starts with a two-stroke advantage over Mackenzie Hughes, Peter Malnati, and Seamus Power, with the final pairing teeing off at 1:50pm local time. Follow along for all of the key updates until a champion is crowned later this evening. 

Thank you for joining us.

YOUNG OFF TO A FLIER WITH SPECTACULAR OPENING APPROACH

Cameron Young is searching for his first win on the PGA Tour and shots like this will boost his chances after hitting the flag on the first to tee up a birdie. 

TERRIBLE OPENING TEE SHOT FOR LEADER KEITH MITCHELL

Mitchell looks like he might have blown the tournament wide open on the first with a poor hooked tee shot into trouble on the left. He is now sweating on a good lie because it is a par 5 and he might be able to recover. Reports his ball may have ended in a car park!

MITCHELL'S OPENING DRIVE ENDS UP IN CAR PARK

Drama here at the first where Mitchell's hooked opening tee shot has ended up in a car park and he is taking a free drop. It is a par 5 so he might be able to scramble a par or better but it is a stressful start for the overnight leader who has been forced to chip out almost sideways with his second.

(Image credit: Sky Sports)

MITCHELL ESCAPES THE FIRST WITH A PAR

After all that drama, Mitchell has escaped at the first with a par after firing a iron from 171 yards on to the green, where he has two putted. Not quite like the famous 'Car Park Champion' Seve Ballesteros at the 1979 Open who made birdie from a car park at Lytham on the 16th en-route to victory.

UNCONVINCING MITCHELL SENDS ANOTHER WAYWARD DRIVE

Mitchell needs to get to grips with his tee shots and fast. On the second he took his three wood but still managed to pull it left into the rough. He escaped the first with a par but might not be so lucky this time as he is again forced to chip out.

ROBBY SHELTON HOLES STRONG CONTENDER FOR SHOT OF THE DAY 

What a fairway wood from Robby Shelton at the 14th which he has only gone and holed from 258 yards for a two on the par 5. Incredible albatross. That gets Shelton to -4 in total and -1 for his round.

NERVY MITCHELL DROPS A SHOT ON THE SECOND

Mitchell has dropped a shot and slipped back to -9. He is still infront but paid the price for missing a second successive fairway off the tee which forced him to only chip out. However the leader has finally found the fairway off the third at the 437-yard par 4.

MITCHELL FINDS FAIRWAY AT THE PAR 4 THIRD

Mitchell is looking to get back on track at the third after finding the fairway with a 225-yard tee shot before a 203-yard shot to the front of the green. It gives him an outside chance of making a birdie but he has to settle for a par after Chandler Phillips moved level with him on -9.

WHAT A ROUND CARL YUAN IS HAVING 

After chipping in for eagle at the par 5 fifth, Yuan has holed out from off the green for a birdie at the par 3 eighth to get to -8.

MITCHELL APPEARS TO BE SETTLE DOWN AFTER SUCCESSIVE PARS

Mitchell remains at -9 after pars on the third and fourth as he appears to be getting to grips with his final round following a very rocky start but he has competition from Chandler Phillips and Mackenzie Hughes who are both level with him.

XANDER SCHAUFFELE PUTTS OUT FOR FINAL ROUND 65

Xander Schauffele was blown away last Sunday by Scottie Scheffler on the PGA Tour but he has finished well this week with a closing 65 for a -6 round to get to -8 following a birdie on the last which has left him tied fourth at the moment. This is a tough course and the American must now hope his clubhouse total is enough.

MITCHELL MISSES HIS THIRD FAIRWAY LEFT IN SIX HOLES

Overnight leader Keith Mitchell definitely needs to tweak his swing here as he is consistently missing the fairway on the left side. He has done it again on the 446-yard par 4 sixth and drops another shot as he is forced to hack out en-route to a bogey.

(Image credit: Sky Sports)

SCHAUFFELE IN CLUBHOUSE AND IN WITH A CHANCE

Schauffele, who has finished with a superb final round 65 after going -6 in his last eight holes, is in the clubhouse on -8 and is definitely going to hang around in case of a play-off. He could even yet end up top on his own as Mackenzie Hughes is currently the only player ahead of him. Schauffele just told the press: "I had a nice finish. I'm staying on site so I'm going to cruise back home and hang around."

MITCHELL STILL LOOKING UNCONVINCING AS HUGHES SHINES

Keith Mitchell lost his two-shot lead early on today after some loose driving and I can't see him clawing himself back into contention on this evidence. He has just left a wedge from 92 yards 32 feet short of the pin and had to settle for a par while MacKenzie Hughes has poured in a 36-feet birdie putt at the eighth to get to -10.

YUAN KEEPS UP PRESSURE AT TOP WITH THIRD CHIP IN OF HIS ROUND

Chinese pro Carl Yuan is at -9 and having an incredible round to remember after chipping in for a third time. Astonishing.

HUGHES GETS PLUGGED LIE IN SAND OFF TEE AT NINTH

Hughes has looked composed and a good bet as the frontman on -10 but he got a plugged lie off the tee on the ninth and hasn't even managed to advance his ball back on to the fairway with his second at the par 4. He wedges up close but misses his par putt and drops back to -9.

MITCHELL NOW +4 FOR HIS FINAL ROUND AFTER LATEST BOGEY

Keith Mitchell teed off with a two-shot lead but has reached the turn +4 over today after dropping back to -6 following a string of poor drives and unconvincing shots. Can't see him winning unless he gets a spark asap. 

FINE BOUNCE BACK BIRDIE FROM HUGHES ON 10

After dropping a shot on the ninth when he drove into the sand, Hughes has responded with a fine birdie on the par 4 10th with a big 45-foot putt.

CAMERON YOUNG WILL HAVE A SHORT BIRDIE PUTT TO GO JOINT TOP

Impressive play from Young on the 12th who has put a wedge to six feet on the par four 12th. He is -9 and has a chance to join Mackenzie Hughes and Peter Malnati at the top of the leaderboard. Young is yet to win on the PGA Tour but he should have another chance today after making birdie to go to -10.

HUGHES HAS ANOTHER TOUGH BUNKER SHOT ON THE 12TH

After dropping a shot earlier following a plugged bunker lie, Hughes has another tough shot from a downhill lie in the sand ahead at the back of the 12th after his approach from 182 yards. It left him little chance to keep the ball on the green and he has dropped a shot.

WE HAVE OUR LATEST NEW LEADER PETER MALNATI

The lead continues to ebb and flow at the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook Resort in Florida where Peter Malnati is now -11 on his own after his third successive birdie at the 12th despite not liking his approach or putt. 

CAMERON YOUNG IS DESPERATE FOR HIS MAIDEN PGA TOUR WIN AND THIS IS A GREAT CHANCE

Young, has had six runner-up finishes in his career on the PGA Tour so far, including the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the 2022 Open Championship, but he could finally be about to land his first title. He has just moved level with Malnati after a birdie on the par five 14th and then hit the par 3 15th with a fine shot of 179 yards before tapping in for par to stay -4 today and -11 in total with three holes left going into the Snake Pit.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

FINAL PAIRING WELL OUT OF IT

Today's final round is coming to a thrilling climax but I imagine the last pair of Seamus Power and Keith Mitchell will just want to get off the course by now. They teed off with dreams of victory but Power is +5 for today and overnight leader Mitchell is +8.

YOUNG ENTERS THE INFAMOUS 'SNAKE PIT'

Young is looking composed and has a great chance here. He is level with Malnati but can put a lot of pressure on his rival as he is in the group ahead. Young has teed off on the 16th and cut a drive which just ended in the rough. He has about 156 yards to go and is able to gouge an impressive shot to the green en-route to a par while Malnati in the group behind hit the par 3 15th and made his par too. 

YOUNG FIRES IN A BRILLIANT TEE SHOT TO 17TH

Young has hit a superb tee shot into the par 3 17th from 204 yards to 17 feet. He has a chance to put a lot of pressure on Malnati in the group behind who has put his second through the 16th green into the thick fringe where he has been fortunate to get a free drop as Young makes par and so does Malnati.

YOUNG IN TROUBLE OFF THE 18TH TEE AS MALNATI HITS 17TH GREEN

Young has been hitting it so well today to get to -4  and -11 in total but his last drive on the 18th is a shocker after he pulled it left into the rough. So it is advantage Malnati who has put his tee shot on the 17th from 199 yards to six foot. 

YOUNG FINDS 18TH GREEN AS MALNATI GRABS LEAD

Young has found the 18th green from the rough and may need to hole out from 51-feet after Malnati birdied the 17th to get to -12. Young's effort comes up short and he three-putts the last leaving Malnati with a two shot lead coming up the last.

MALNATI POISED FOR VICTORY AS YOUNG SETTLES FOR SECOND AGAIN

Malnati is walking up the last with a two-shot lead after hitting the 18th green in regulation. He drove into the sand but played up on to the green after Young bogeyed the last to walk off facing his seventh runner-up finish.

MOLNATI PARS THE LAST TO SEAL VICTORY 

Peter Molnati has tapped in for a closing 67 and a -12 total as the golfer wiped away tears for just his second PGA Tour win.

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