By Jeremy Harness
AP photo: “It’s been a barrel of fun” The winner of the Safeway Open Brendan Steele holds up the trophy at the 18th hole at the Silverado Resort North Course after winning the Safeway Open on Sunday in Napa
NAPA–Last year, Brendan Steele could not close the deal with the tournament right there for him. He erased all of that on Sunday to come away with the elusive trophy.
It was sweet redemption for Steele, who led after three rounds at the Safeway Open last year but went south in a huge way in the final round en route to a gut-wrenching 76, as Emiliano Grillo took the title in an eventual playoff.
He started the final round five strokes behind the lead but roared back with a score of 65, birdieing each of the final three holes to win his second career PGA Tour event at Silverado Resort and Spa.
“Very cool and awesome to start off the year,” Steele said. “Last year, I struggled down the stretch, and this year, it was the total opposite, and it just feels fantastic to come back like that.
“I really love this event, and Safeway’s done an awesome job this week, and I’m really, really excited about it.”
After getting up and down for birdie at the par-5 16th, Steele knocked down a 15-footer for birdie at the 17th, and then used his improved short game to get up and down for another birdie at the par-5 18th.
“My putting coming down the stretch was really the most important thing, and definitely some wedge-play stuff (was important as well),” Steele said. “I’ve been working on some stuff with (instructor) Dave Pelz that really helped me, with the soft conditions, take spin off the ball and really control my numbers, which is somewhere that I’ve kind of struggled in the past.”
Patton Kizzire used his superior putting to get into contention and was tied for the lead on the back nine. However, his ball striking, which had been a bit of an issue for him all week, eventually let him down and would not allow him to catch up to Steele when he took the lead.
At the par-5 16th, Kizzire found his tee shot nestled up against a tree, forcing him to hit it sideways back into the fairway with absolutely no shot to the green in regulation.
However, after he found the greenside bunker with his third shot and his ensuing sand shot left him with a 15-footer for his par, he nailed the long putt to keep himself in the hunt, just moments after Steele made his birdie at the 18th put himself a shot ahead.
Kizzire hit a much-better tee shot at the 17th and left himself only 100 yards to the green. His wedge attempt, however, fell short of the green and went down the slope another 15 yards. He was able to get up and down for par again.
He had one more chance to catch up, but his tee shot found the rough on the left side and forced him to lay up. His approach shot from 175 yards found the thick rough on the right side, however, and when his ensuing chip shot missed by a foot, the victory was secured for Steele.
“I’m definitely disappointed,” Kizzire said. “That was probably as close as I’ve been to winning, but I’m going to take the positives from it and try to put myself back in a good spot.
“I learned a lot today.”
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