Maiden PGA Tour victory a landmark for Lanto
Houston Open report: What happened at the Golf Club of Houston?
After losing his father to a brain tumour at the age of 12, Lanto Griffin turned to Steve Prater who became more than just a golf coach to him.
Not only would Prater help Griffin craft his game to a high standard but he provided the young American with a much needed father-figure.
In Houston, the hard work and emotional investment of player and coach paid off as the 31-year-old recorded his first victory on the PGA Tour. Indeed, it was his first top-10 finish.
Griffin finished the week on 14-under and eclipsed fellow Korn Ferry Tour graduates Mark Hubbard and Scott Harrington by a single shot.
6 feet for the win …@TheLanto61 is the 2019 @HouOpenGolf champion. 🏆#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/U9RTKRgCeE
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 13, 2019
The final day was tight despite Griffin stating that he “felt eerily calm” out on the course.
Having held the lead into the final round, he got off to the perfect start with birdies at two of his opening three hole.
Bogeys at 4 and 11 made things slightly trickier for the American but despite being caught by both of his nearest competitors he holed a 33-footer for birdie at the 16th to break free of a tie and return to the outright lead.
What a putt! 👏@TheLanto61 makes a clutch birdie at 16.
He now leads by 1 @HouOpenGolf.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/of3HAMKdfu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 13, 2019
This birdie setup the victory with par at the final two holes enough to seal the emotional victory
Harrington made seven birdies in all on what was one of the finest rounds of his PGA Tour career but in the end is left to regret bogies at 14 and crucially 17, which shaved off the shot he needed for a play-off.
Throwing darts. 🎯@Scottyglf is dialed-in late on Sunday @HouOpenGolf.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/3RJDl7LoPG
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 13, 2019
Griffin’s putt on the 16th wasn’t even the most impressive putt of the day, that went to Hubbard.
In the hunt for his first PGA Tour victory, he started with a bang as he rolled in a huge 80-footer for eagle to take a one-shot lead at the 4th.
80 FEET! 🦅@HomelessHubbs holds a 1-shot lead @HouOpenGolf thanks to this LONG eagle putt. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/pyvEUfDFl5
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 13, 2019
From that point he carded two birdies and one bogey and ended as the only player in the field to have four rounds in the 60s.
Elsewhere, Beau Hossler, who lost in a play-off at the last staging of this event finished in a tie for 13th, while pre-tournament favourite Henrik Stenson missed the cut.
Houston Open report: What the winner said
Lanto Griffin shares his emotions after becoming a first-time PGA TOUR winner at the Houston Open. https://t.co/QSu0KEc9eB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 13, 2019
Houston Open report: Talking point
Walker Cup stars Cole Hammer and Brandon Wu were two further success stories to come out of the week in Houston.
Wu was making his first professional start on the PGA Tour and looked right at home as he played his way to a share of 17th, finishing 6 shots back of the winner.
Hammer meanwhile was making his second career start on the PGA Tour despite still holding amateur status and impressed early on after opening the week with a brilliant 67.
The Texan, who has spent a considerable amount of time at the World No. 1 amateur finished the week at +1 in a tie for 61st.
Joe Hughes
Tour editor covering men's golf, women's golf and anything else that involves the word golf, really. The talk is far better than the game, but the work has begun to change that.
