Todd claims maiden PGA Tour title

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May 19, 2014

Brendon Todd carded a final round 66 on Sunday to win the Byron Nelson Championship, the American’s maiden PGA Tour title.

The 28-year-old led the event after two rounds and was in a tie at the top after 54 holes and held his nerve to finish the event at the TPC Four Seasons on 14-under-par, two shots ahead of Canada’s Mike Weir, who notched a 67 in his final round.

The victory came in Todd’s 77th PGA Tour start and secured him a place in next year’s Masters Tournament at Augusta, not far from his Atlanta home.
“It feels amazing,” Todd said from the clubhouse after his victory.

“It’s a big monkey off my back. I’ve been through a lot of ups and downs but I’m pretty happy right now.”

American Charles Howell III (67) and Australian Marc Leishman (68) finished in a share for third place on 10-under, while Americans Boo Weekley (68) and James Hahn (70) another stroke adrift.

Before this week’s event in Dallas, Todd’s previous best finish in a PGA Tour event took place at the this year’s Texas Open and Humana challenge, where he finished in a tie for sixth place at both events.

During his final round, Todd sunk birdie putts on the second, fifth, ninth and 10th, while the 44-year-old Weir remained in touch with the leader with four birdies in his first five holes.

Weir, however, dropped shots at the sixth and ninth, allowing Todd to take the lead again, before Weir birdied the 15th to pull within two shots of the leader when he reached the clubhouse.

Todd, though, responded well to the pressure and sunk a long par putt on the 17th to all but secure the title before the final hole.

“That was huge,” Todd said.

“I didn’t know where I stood. It was a great putt. I rammed it in there.”