PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Sepp Straka became the first Austrian to win on the PGA Tour, overcoming a five-shot deficit Sunday to win the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort.
Straka birdied three of the last five holes, leaving his 46-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole inches short after he reached the par-5 final hole in two during a driving rainstorm. He tapped in for a final-round 4-under 66 on the Champion Course to beat 2019 British Open champion Shane Lowry by a shot at 10-under 270.
“It’s awesome,” Straka said. “I had no idea where I stood. I knew so many things could happen on the back nine. Most of it was out of my control, so I tried to keep my head down and hit good shots. I knew I could win because there was only one guy ahead of me. Strange things happen out here.”
It was an out-of-the-blue moment for the 28-year-old Straka, who entered the week 176th in the world rankings and the final round in a four-way tied for second place. Before Sunday, his biggest moments in golf were finishing third in the 2019 Barbasol Championship, a PGA Tour opposite-field event, and leading after the first round of the 2020 Summer Olympics (he finished T10) held in 2021.
Now he’s in the Masters, is exempt on the PGA Tour through the 2024 season and has spots in the PGA Championship, Sentry Tournament of Champions and invitational events.
“It’s a lifelong dream of mine just to be heading to Augusta,” said Straka, who played at the University of Georgia after his family moved from Austria to the U.S. when he was 14. “It’s still surreal. I’m sure it will sink in at some time. It’s just crazy what this all means. I’ll have to do some research tonight.”
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Daniel Berger may do some soul-searching after losing a big lead with a 4-over 74. The Jupiter resident entered the final round with a five-shot lead — matching the largest 54-hole lead in the tournament’s 49-year history — as he tried to win his hometown Honda Classic.
But that lead was gone after he went 4-over on the first six holes and Lowry (67) made a couple of birdies. Berger fought back by holing a bunker shot and a chip, but those were his only birdies of the round.
Berger was last in putting in the field Sunday and played his last three par-5s in 4-over, finishing fourth, a shot behind first-round leader Kurt Kitayama (68).
“I didn’t play well, so I didn’t win the golf tournament,” said Berger, who’s now 1-of-4 in converting 54-hole leads. “I just didn’t hit the shots that I needed to hit at the right time.
“Just a poor round. It can happen at any time. I’m not going to dwell on it too much. I don’t think I made a single putt today.”
Lowry also left the Honda Classic disappointed. Everyone knew the Irishman would have a hangover after he won the 2019 British Open at Royal Portrush.
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Lowry almost ended an 0-for 61 winless streak when he was 3-under through 11 holes to take a one-shot lead. But he finished with seven pars, unable to match Straka’s closing rush. Lowry had to lay up at the 18th, and his 40-footer wasn’t close.
“I felt I played good enough golf to win the tournament,” said Lowry, who also lives in Jupiter. “That bad weather came in just as we were hitting our tee shot on 18, which was as bad a break as I’ve got in awhile.
“It’s a tough one to take. Probably played some of my best golf of my whole career this week, I feel, around a very tough golf course.”
Straka was a deserved winner. He was the best ball-striker on the difficult Champion Course, ranking first in strokes gained off the tee and fourth in average approach.
And he was clutch, making a 14-foot birdie putt at the 16th to tie for the lead and then bombed a 334-yard drive on the 18th hole, leaving him 199 yards.
“It was a perfect 7-iron distance, but then it started pouring, so my caddie (John Davenport) talked me into hitting a 6-iron,” Straka said. “I was very lucky I got to hit my drive before the rain came. None of us wanted to hit (the second shot), but because there was no lightning, we had no choice.”
Straka took home the trophy and a piece of history. And a chance to play in a famous tournament near his alma mater.
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