Straka rallies for first PGA Tour victory

Sepp Straka is returning to Georgia in a few weeks, for the Masters, after pulling off a huge comeback to win the PGA Tour's Honda Classic.

Straka, down by five shots entering the final round, tapped in for birdie in the rain on the final hole to become the first Austrian winner in PGA Tour history.

He shot a 4-under 66 on Sunday to finish at 10-under 270 and earn a $1.44 million ($A2m) pay day.

Ireland's Shane Lowry carded his third consecutive round of 67 to finish one shot back of Straka while first-round leader Kurt Kitayama (68) was third at 8 under.

Daniel Berger -- who led the field by five shots after 54 holes -- simply fell apart on Sunday, his round of 74 leaving him at 7 under and three shots off the pace.

Lowry needed to make a 45-foot putt for birdie on the final hole to force a playoff.

It missed, and with that, the Honda had a new champion -- one who came into the week ranked No.176 in the world, has never been higher than No.129, and whose claim to fame as a professional probably was being the first round leader at the Tokyo Olympics last summer.

He's a PGA Tour winner now.

"The words aren't really coming to me right now," Straka said.

"It's just crazy. I really don't know what to think."

"I hit the ball really nice today and really could take advantage," Straka said.

The victory ensures that Straka -- who played his college golf at Georgia -- will play the Masters in April.

Berger needed a miracle at the end but instead his second shot at the par-5 18th went into the water, and with that his hopes were officially gone.

Lowry trailed by five shots entering the final day but that deficit was soon gone, as he made two early birdies and his final-group playing partner Berger dropped four shots in his opening