Sepp Straka overcame a five-shot deficit Sunday and became the first Austrian to win on the PGA Tour with his victory at the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort. Straka birdied three of the last five holes, leaving his 46-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole inches short after he reached the par-5 final hole in two. Straka defeated 2019 British Open champion Shane Lowry by a shot at 10-under 270.
Straka said of the win: “It’s awesome. I had no idea where I stood. I knew so many things could happen on the back nine. Most of it was out of my control, so I tried to keep my head down and hit good shots. I knew I could win because there was only one guy ahead of me. Strange things happen out here.”
The 28-year-old Straka entered the week 176th in the world rankings and the final round in a four-way tied for second place. Before Sunday, his biggest moments in golf were finishing third in the 2019 Barbasol Championship, a PGA Tour opposite-field event, and leading after the first round of the 2020 Summer Olympics (he finished T10) held in 2021.
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