Las Vegas: Kevin Na kept his cool with a red-hot putter to hold off fellow American Nick Watney and claim his first PGA Tour title with an emotional two-shot victory at the Las Vegas Open on Sunday.
South Korea-born Na rolled in a 43-footer to birdie the par-three 17th before parring the last for a six-under-par 65 and a 23-under total of 261 at the TPC Summerlin.
The 28-year-old, who had been winless in his previous 210 PGA Tour starts, threw both arms skywards in celebration before removing his cap and embracing his caddie.
"Oh wow," a tearful Na said greenside after being told he had finally triumphed in his 211th career start. "I went through a lot. I'd have nightmares finishing second.
"I used to tell my mother: ‘As hard as I work, when am I going to get my first win?' People said they believed in me more than I think I believe in myself, especially Kenny my caddie. Every time he was there for me and he believed in me."
Tied for the lead overnight with Watney, Na was briefly caught at the top by his playing partner with four holes to play before he tightened his grip on the title with birdies at 15, 16, and 17.
World No 11 Watney, bidding to become the PGA Tour's first three-time champion this year, had to settle for second place after closing with a four-birdie 67.
Americans Tommy Gainey and Paul Goydos both signed off with 68s to share third place at 18 under.
For most of Sunday's final round, however, the tournament came down to an effective head-to-head between Na and Watney, the two overnight leaders.
Long-range birdie
Na made a red-hot start, birdies at the first and second holes putting him two strokes clear at 19 under.
Though Las Vegas resident Watney cut that deficit to one with a long-range birdie putt at the third, Na restored his two-shot cushion by sinking a 20-footer from just off the green at the par-four fourth.
Two ahead at the turn, Na was briefly caught by Watney when he bogeyed the par-three 14th after failing to get up and down from a buried lie in a greenside bunker. Once again, though, Na regained control, sinking a three-footer to birdie the driveable par-four 15th.
Scores
Final round (US unless noted, par-71):
261 - Kevin Na 67-63-66-65
263 - Nick Watney 65-67-64-67
266 - Tommy Gainey 67-67-64-68, Paul Goydos 66-66-66-68
267 - David Hearn (CAN) 69-67-66-65, Carl Pettersson (SWE) 66-67-66-68, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 63-67-69-68, Tim Herron 65-66-67-69, Spencer Levin 68-67-64-68
268 - Scott Piercy 67-65-70-66, Ben Crane 67-67-68-66, Kyle Stanley 69-64-69-66, Hunter Haas 71-61-72-64, Bryce Molder 68-66-67, Kris Blanks 66-65-66-71.
