LOS ANGELES (AFP) — Stephan Jaeger held off world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler down the stretch to win his first US PGA Tour title on Sunday at the Houston Open.
Jaeger took the solo lead at 12-under with his fourth birdie of the day at the ninth, then parred all nine holes on the back nine to emerge with the victory on 12-under 268.
“It feels amazing,” Jaeger said.
“I couldn’t have dreamed up a better week to do it.”
“Obviously, playing Scottie last couple days, he’s been on a tear, so to kind of slay the dragon a little bit this week was amazing.”
“He’s such a good dude, such a good player, I was just happy to play with him a couple days.”
Scheffler, playing in the last group with Jaeger, responded to a bogey at the demanding par-three 15th with a birdie at 16, but he missed a five-and-a-half-foot birdie putt at 18 that would have forced a playoff.
He settled for a two-under par 68 that put him in a five-way tie for second alongside Taylor Moore, Tony Finau, Thomas Detry and Alejandro Tosti.
Tosti was 12-under after a birdie at 16 but closed with a bogey at 18.
Jaeger, ranked 71st in the world and chasing a first tour title in his 135th start, was part of a five-way tie for the lead to start the day.
After a five-foot birdie at the third, he rolled in a 23-foot birdie putt from the fringe at the fourth to maintain a share of the lead.
