Na cruises to second PGA Tour win at the Greenbrier
What happened at the Greenbrier?
Kevin Na eased to a five-shot win at the Greenbrier to secure his second career win on the PGA Tour, coming almost seven years after his maiden.
Na, who started the final round one shot adrift of Kelly Kraft, rolled in five birdies in the final six holes of the front-nine to surge into a commanding lead at The Old White TPC.
The 34-year-old has always been seen as a fairly skittish player when in contention, highlighted by a lack of wins in 14 years on tour, his general jumpy nature and a pace of play that often verges on the ridiculous.
But this was a fine effort in closing out a tournament as Na, by his usual standards, looked almost stress-free.
After shooting a front-nine 29, Na opened the back-nine with a birdie and a bogey, and then played his final seven holes in one-under as nobody could get near him.
After hitting his tee shot into the middle of the green at the par-3 18th, he enjoyed a short walk up to the green, playing to the cameras and even finding time to say hello to his family.
"Feel good."#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/TCxzO87jX3
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2018
Chile’s Joaquin Niemann – the former world No.1 amateur – continues to make the transition to the top of the game looks seamless. The 19-year-old needed a top-20 finish this week to secure his PGA Tour card for the rest of the season. A round of 64 – matching his final-round here last year as an amateur – meant he’d finish tied for fifth and lock his spot on the Tour up with relative ease.
Kraft made a birdie on the 18th to match his best career finish at solo second, while Brandt Snedeker returned to form to finish tied for third along with six others.
Best quote
Have no idea what Kevin said, STILL hit us right in the feels. pic.twitter.com/iKb2mJU79u
— Skratch (@Skratch) July 8, 2018
Talking point
Phil Mickelson on the wrong side of the rules again?
Yep; this time, Lefty called a penalty on himself after improving his line of play on his tee shot at the 7th hole.
Mickelson called a rules official and told them: “I was on the tee box and was going to hit one really low, and there was grass sticking up at the front. So I knocked it down before I hit, so is that an infraction?”
Sure enough, he faced a two-stroke penalty for improving his line of play (violation of Rule 13-2).
Here’s a 50-second version of how it went down. pic.twitter.com/vebvxUOkBD
— Skratch (@Skratch) July 8, 2018
Best moments
Congrats from Bubba. ? pic.twitter.com/u9ajLKd6Ry
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2018
Kevin Na finishing in style.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/GLshoAmAJt
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2018
Kevin Na's last 7 holes:
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Par
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?He's made 120' 8" of putts thru 10 holes.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/h937HRRsbH
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2018
4 birdies in his last 5 holes.
Kevin Na leads by 3.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/OLrEyjpv4w
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2018
?-?-?
Kevin Na has opened up a 2-shot lead.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/7fy07SFO7r
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 8, 2018
Sam Saunders is using one of his grandfather's putters this week.
"He did tell me that it was one that he wanted me to use. Hopefully it's got some good luck in it … He loved that two-ball putter."#ArniesArmy pic.twitter.com/vFsKbtRpO1
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 7, 2018
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Tom Irwin
Tom is a lifetime golfer, now over 30 years playing the game. 2023 marks 10 years in golf publishing and he is still holding down a + handicap at Alwoodley in Leeds. He has played over 600 golf courses, and has been a member of at least four including his first love Louth, in Lincolnshire. Tom likes unbranded clothing, natural fibres, and pencil bags. Seacroft in Lincolnshire is where it starts and ends.
