CAlifornia: Sweden’s Jonas Blixt overhauled a stumbling John Mallinger to win his first PGA Tour title by one shot at the Frys.com Open in San Martin, California yesterday.
Two strokes behind the pacesetting Mallinger overnight, rookie Blixt fired a three-under-par 68 to break clear of a tightly bunched leaderboard on a sun-splashed afternoon at CordeValle Golf Club.
The red-shirted Swede snatched the outright lead when he sank a seven-foot birdie putt at the driveable par-four 17th after overhitting the green off the tee, then safely parred the last to finish at 16-under 268. Blixt pumped his right fist in delight after sinking a four-footer to claim his first victory on the US circuit, before being soaked in champagne as he was embraced by friends and family on the 18th green.
“It’s unbelievable,” the 28-year-old Swede, who finished third at last week’s Las Vegas Open, told Golf Channel after becoming the third rookie to triumph on the 2012 PGA Tour. “I have no words right now.
“This is the biggest dream I ever had. It’s been the greatest two weeks I have ever had on tour.” afp
