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Knox wins Travelers with par-saving putt on final hole

 
Published Aug. 8, 2016

CROMWELL, Conn. — Russell Knox nicknamed himself "The Beast" after playing two good rounds at the Travelers Championship.

He doubled down on that Sunday after sinking a 12-foot par putt on the final hole and beat hometown favorite Jerry Kelly by a stroke, hours after Jim Furyk shot the first 58 in PGA Tour history.

"I felt like the Incredible Hulk when it went in," Knox said. "I could have ripped my shirt off."

Knox closed with 2-under 68 for 14-under 266 at TPC River Highlands. The 31-year-old Scot won for the second time on tour, following his breakthrough victory in China in November at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

Kelly, the 49-year-old former University of Hartford player, finished with 64.

Knox opened with consecutive 67s and had 64 Saturday. He took the lead with birdies at 13 and 14. He bogeyed the par-3 16th and missed a chance to seal it on the par-3 17th when his 20-foot birdie putt stopped an inch right of the hole.

Knox hit his tee shot on the par-4 18th right and into the crowd, and his second shot into a green-side bunker below the hole. He pitched out short of the hole, setting up a putt that went straight into the hole. He didn't tear his shirt off but did send his hat flying in celebration.

"Everybody dreams of making a putt on the last hole to win a tournament," he said. "I just kept telling myself, 'This is your chance to make a putt to have a great celebration and hear the roars.' "

Justin Thomas was almost an afterthought despite shooting 62 and stringing together five straight birdies. He finished with nine birdies on the day and 12 under for the tournament, tied with Patrick Rodgers for third. Rodgers shot 68.

Former FSU star Daniel Berger began the day at 15 under with a three-stroke lead, but he finished with 74 and a four-way tie at 11 under.

CHAMPIONS: Joe Durant made a 10-foot eagle putt on the first playoff hole with Miguel Angel Jimenez to win the 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn. Durant won on the par-5 18th after closing with birdie on the hole in regulation for 9-under 63. After double bogey on the 14th, Jimenez birdied the last four holes for 67 to match Durant at 19-under 197.

U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR: South Korea's Eun Jeong Seong became the first to win the event and the U.S. Girls' Junior in the same year. The 16-year-old outlasted Italy's Virginia Elena Carta 1 up in hot conditions in the 36-hole final at Springfield, Pa., the first all-international championship match in 106 years.