PGA TOUR

Valspar Championship

Taylor Moore Wins Valspar Championship

America‚Äôs Taylor Moore collected his maiden PGA Tour title at the Valspar Championship in Florida. The 29-year-old Texan entered the winner‚Äôs circle in his 46^th PGA Tour start. Moore headed compatriots Adam Schenk and Jordan Spieth plus England‚Äôs Tommy Fleetwood.

Moore carded rounds of 71, 67, 69 and a superb 4-under 67 final round at the notoriously difficult Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort to reach 10-under. The world No. 103 covered the back nine in 3-under 32. His clutch finish included birdies at the 12^th, 15^th and 16^th holes.

Schenk was searching for his first PGA Tour title in his 165^th start. The 31-year-old claimed solo second place one shot behind Moore after making a bogey at the final hole. Playing in the final pairing with Spieth, Schenk was tied with Moore at 10-under standing on the tee at the par 4, 18^th hole. His wayward drive left rested against the base of a tree leading to a chip-out sideways. He faced a par saving putt from 46 feet, which lipped out of the hole. The runner up performance was Schenk‚Äôs best finish on the PGA Tour besting his T3 finish at the 2021 Shriners Children‚Äôs Open.

Spieth and Fleetwood finished in joint third place a shot further back at 8-under. Spieth was looking for his 14^th PGA Tour win and first title since the 2022 RBC Heritage. The former world No. 1 closed with a 1-under 70 that included bogeys at the 16^th and 18^th holes. Spieth found the water with his drive at the tough 16^th hole and three-putted the 72^nd green en route to the dropped shots.

Fleetwood came just up short again in his bid to earn his maiden PGA Tour title. The 32-year-old has recorded four runner up finishes and 26 top 10s from 112 PGA Tour starts. Fleetwood, who owns six DP World titles, posted a 1-under 70 final round.

Cameron Percy and Harrison Endycott were the only Australians to make a start at Innisbrook Resort. Tour veteran Percy produced rounds of 69 and 70 over the weekend to finish at 2-under and in a tie for 16^th place. Endycott made the cut at 1-over. The 26-year-old was never able to contend carding rounds of 73 and 75 on Saturday and Sunday respectively and fall to 7-over for a tie at 65^th place.

The PGA Tour moves to Texas for next week‚Äôs WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play staged at Austin Golf Club. America‚Äôs Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion.