Tour
April 24, 2017 - 9:15 am EDT 8 years ago

Crazy Flop Shot Hole-Out; Chappell Wins First Tour Title

Dan Bier Dan Bier


 

Everybody loves a good flop shot and we were treated to one of the best of the year on Sunday that even Phil Mickelson would approve of. During the final round of the Valero Texas Open, young Aussie Cameron Smith short-sided him on TPC San Antonio’s par-4 ninth hole and needed a miracle to get it close. After weighing his options, the 23-year-old decided to go with an incredibly risky full high flop shot from about 20 yards and executed it to perfection. The ball landed softly on the green and tumbled in for an unlikely birdie. Smith finished with a final round one-under 71 in a tie for sixth, his best finish on Tour this season.

But the real story was the drama that unfolded down the stretch late Sunday afternoon. Kevin Chappell began the day with a one-stroke lead looking for his first Tour win. It turned out his biggest challenge would be fending off a charging Brooks Koepka who went out in a flurry with a front nine 32. Koepka kept it rolling on the back making two more birdies and then tied Chappell for the lead with this awesome four on the par-5 18th:


 

However, 30-year-old Chappell was rock solid all day but a bogey on the par-4 15th hole made things interesting. He was able to right the ship and close the day out with a birdie of his own unleashing one of the more emphatic celebrations we’ve ever seen. Can you really blame him? After 179 starts on the PGA Tour without a victory, you’d be jacked up too! 

Here are the full highlights and final results of the 2017 Valero Texas Open:

Next Stop on the PGA Tour: Zurich Classic Team Event at TPC Louisana in New Orleans. 

 

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