Casey bursts through, Tiger one short and Reed has a nightmare finish

What happened at the Valspar Championship?

Paul Casey’s wait for a second PGA Tour title is finally over after he posted an early 65 and then watched Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods come within very different whiskers of forcing a play-off. Casey birdied three on the bounce from the 11th to reach double figures and then held on coming home with a succession of one putts – he only had 21 putts on the day.

But the real drama was still to come as Tiger did the unthinkable, holing from 44 feet at the 17th (see below) to give himself a chance, before Reed, needing two putts to tie Casey, produced his poorest putt of the day/week/year to make the costliest of bogeys.

Until then he had been box office, opening with an eagle, and he would sign for a 68.

Golf is heartbreaking. ?

Patrick Reed will finish short by 1.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/gzFzrDMDor

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018

For Woods not much had happened and his chance looked to have gone when he three-putted for a par at the 14th after a smoked 2-iron but you should never discount Tiger and he came to the 72nd hole with a 38-footer to force extra holes. It came up a foot shy but this was a stellar week for Woods and he’ll be licking his lips for what the next few months might hold.

For Casey, now 40, it has been a lengthy road, to say the least, to get over the line in the States after a succession of brilliant Thursday and Fridays before forgettable weekends and he was visibly emotional after notching the victory.

Masters champion Sergio Garcia saved his best until Sunday as he posted eight birdies in a closing 65 for fourth place and another top 10 following his seventh in Mexico last week.

Overnight leader Corey Conners was off the leaderboard within a handful of holes and he eventually signed for a 77, his playing partner Justin Rose was also off the pace with a 72.

Talking Point

Even after his 12th place at the Honda who could honestly say that they saw this coming? It was just like old times; the swing speed was ridiculous, he was in contention from day one, there were stingers, twirls, chip-ins and the 42-year-old, whose last win came in 2013, then did this.

Needing to birdie the last two holes to tie Casey this happened at the 71st hole…

TIGER WOODS!!!!!

1. Shot. Back. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/EzmFJvu0sN

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018

As it transpired he came up one shot shy, the approaches weren’t quite as adjacent on Sunday as the first part of the week and the putts stayed above ground but this was more than genuine progress. If anyone was questioning whether he was properly back then wonder no more, this was relatively sensational.

Previously there were loose elements to his game, as you might expect given how little golf he has played in recent years, but this week it was rock solid. Last week’s winner Phil Mickelson said he wouldn’t be surprised if Tiger didn’t ‘one up’ him by winning, he very nearly did which, when you think back to much of the past few years, is almost unbelievable.

When Tiger finally made his return in the Bahamas the most optimistic observers thought he might find a bit of form, maybe a top 10 by the middle of the year. We’re only halfway into March and he’s now second favourite for the Masters.

Moments of the Week

What a swing! ???@PReedGolf is tied for the lead after this shot set up birdie.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/kNhGXaznzZ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018

Walking it in. ?@Paul_Casey takes the solo lead.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/MxFUfr4ZRi

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018

This chip-in from @TigerWoods No. 9 nearly brought down the house. pic.twitter.com/la6aso1XF6

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 11, 2018

"That's not real. Wow!" @HTMullinax gets it close from inside a hospitality tent. ?? pic.twitter.com/sBq8k7mfqQ

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 10, 2018

Tiger made par from here… pic.twitter.com/Us6cdRUbU4

— Skratch (@Skratch) March 8, 2018

Best Tweets

Tiger provided the most compelling TV drama over the last 20 years. Kids who watched him quit basketball, baseball and football because they wanted to be like him. Now he’s facing competition that he literally created. What a sport.

— Ben Crane (@bencranegolf) March 11, 2018

Tiger Woods is on the tee, in contention, on Sunday pic.twitter.com/nl4u6SpVpQ

— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) March 11, 2018

Former PGA Tour champion, written off as done, returns from oblivion to contend for a title.

What a week for Bob Estes.

— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) March 10, 2018

Best Stats

21 putts for Paul Casey today – the fewest in the final round by a PGA Tour winner since Jim Carter at the 2000 Tucson Open.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) March 11, 2018

Phil Mickelson's win drought lasted 1,687 days.

Sunday at Bay Hill will be 1,687 days since Tiger Woods' last victory.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) March 11, 2018

This will be the 70th time Tiger Woods is at/within 1 of the lead after 54 holes on the PGA Tour. He has gone on to win 62 of the previous 69 instances (win percentage of 89.9). He's never finished outside the top-5.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) March 10, 2018

Ultimate underdog: Corey Conners will play the eleventh final round of his PGA Tour career today. He is a combined +19 in the previous ten. The three players tied for second have combined for 95 PGA Tour victories.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) March 11, 2018