Brendan Steele had some unfinished business to attend to in the final round of the Sony Open. After losing this event in a playoff a year ago, Steele entered Sunday’s final round with a two-shot lead and looking to close the deal.
Once again, however, Steele leaked too much oil coming into the clubhouse, and once again he failed to pad his PGA Tour win total. Instead, Kevin Na will leave the 50th state with the title, his fifth career win on the PGA Tour.
The final holes at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu turned into a horserace and three other players emerged to challenge Steele. When Steele bogeyed the 14th, he slipped out of the solo lead at 20 under and into a share of the lead at 19 under with Chris Kirk, Na and Webb Simpson.
Na got on a heater on the back nine, running off birdies at Nos. 13, 14 and 15 and making a clutch par putt at No. 17 to keep his chances alive.
“I felt pretty comfortable all day,” Na told Golf Channel after the round.
He called this victory validation for his 18 years on Tour. It took 14 for him to claim his first title. He has now won four times in the last two and a half years.
Coming down the 18th, Na shared the lead with Kirk at 20 under. Kirk was already in the clubhouse, and headed out to the range to warm up for a potential playoff. It was not to be, however.
After Na flew the 18th green with his second shot, he chipped up to a foot and made the putt for birdie and the win.
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