Austrian Sepp Straka conquered his nerves to capture his third US PGA Tour title in convincing style Sunday, firing a two-under-par 70 to win the American Express in La Quinta, California, by two strokes.
Straka started the day with a four-shot lead over a trio of players and led by the same margin after his fourth birdie of the day at the par-three 13th — the toughest hole on the Stadium Course.
But it wouldn’t be a smooth march to the finish. Straka’s lead dwindled to three strokes after his first bogey of the week at the par-five 16th, where his second shot from the fairway drifted right and his 15-foot putt to save par slipped past the hole.
He would bogey the 18th as well, but his 25-under-par total put him two clear of former world number one Justin Thomas, who carded a six-under-par 66 for 265.
Another former …