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Kevin Chappell's 18th-hole birdie gives him first win in 180th career start
Steve Dykes
Kevin Chappell holed an eight-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to defeat a charging Brooks Koepka on Sunday to win the Valero Texas Open, his first victory in the 180th start of his PGA Tour career.
Chappell, who began the final round with a one-stroke lead, shot a four-under par 68 on the AT&T Oaks Course at TPC San Antonio to defeat Koepka by one. Koepka, for his part, had the best round of the day, a seven-under par 65.
“I’m just excited I don’t have to answer that question, of what do I have to do to win, again,” he said. “There’s some excitement and a lot of joy right now. Hopefully this is a platform to jump off on.”
For much of the back nine, Chappell’s lead was one, until the par-5 14th. He hit a 338-yard drive, then hit a 6-iron from 215 yards to nine feet and two-putted for birdie to extend his lead to two.
Chappell, 30, gave the stroke back with a bogey at 15 and Koepka pulled into a tie by holing a three-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th hole, while Chappell had two holes left to play.
On the 18th hole, Chappell hit a perfect layup second shot, hit his third from 87 yards to eight feet and calmly holed the putt.
Last season, Chappell, 30, finished second on four occasions.