Spaun wins Texas Open and secures Masters debut

JJ Spaun claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory and secured an invite to The Masters for the first time as he held his nerve over the closing stages to win the Valero Texas Open.

The 31-year-old American carded a three-under 69 in the final round at TPC San Antonio to finish on 13-under 275, two ahead of Matt Jones and Matt Kuchar.

He also became the first player to win on the PGA Tour after starting his final round with a double-bogey since Tiger Woods at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.

Spaun, who began the day in a four-way tie for the lead, missed the first green left with his approach and then three-putted for that disastrous start, but, with none of his rivals pulling clear, he was firmly back in contention after birdies at the sixth, eighth and ninth, chipping in from 50 feet out of the left rough at the latter hole.

An excellent approach to three feet set up another birdie at the 11th which took him one clear at the top of the leaderboard and he doubled his advantage by nailing a nine-foot birdie putt at the 14th.

Spaun has been deadly from inside 10 feet all week and he holed crucial par putts at the 15th, 16th and 17th before overcoming a wayward tee shot on the 18th with another par to become the ninth first-time PGA Tour winner this year so far on his 147th start.

Australian Jones, who had five birdies on a flawless front nine, emerged from the pack to set the clubhouse target on 11 under with a six-under 66, although he missed an 11-foot birdie putt at the last which would have applied further pressure on Spaun.

He shared second with veteran American Kuchar, who came up short with a 69 despite playing some bold shots in the closing stages as he looked to extend his run of consecutive major appearances to 28,