Peter Malnati sealed his first triumph on the PGA TOUR in almost nine-years thanks to a two-shot victory in the Valspar Championship.
The 36-year-old American carded a four-under 67 in the final round at Innisbrook Resort in Florida to secure a first win on the tour since the 2015 Sanderson Farms Championship.
“I told myself I was going to do my best on every shot and that’s what I did,” Malnati said.
“I was so nervous coming down the stretch and the approach into 16 was terrible… I just can’t describe it. It’s so cool. It’s just amazing.
“You wonder if you’re ever going to do it again because it’s hard and in the nine years since my last win it’s gotten a lot harder too.
“You look at the level of talent out here, guys coming out when they’re 20 years old and they’re ready to play on this stage and they’re so good. So to have this moment it just feels so amazing.”
This victory for Malnati means that he has secured a spot at the upcoming Masters Tournament in April.
“That will be amazing,” said Malnati. “But I think more of what has sunk in to me is, this guarantees me that, this is my 10th season on the PGA TOUR, it guarantees me that I’m going to have 12 [years], at least.”
Fellow countryman Cameron Young closed with a 68 to finish second on 10 under, the seventh time he has finished runner-up on the PGA TOUR while there was a tie for third featuring America’s Chandler Phillips and Mackenzie Hughes who both finished on 9 under.
The next event on the PGA TOUR schedule is the Houston Open taking place between 28-31 March at Memorial Park Golf Course in Texas.