• Travelers Championship, Round Four

Hoffman collapses to hand Leishman victory

Charley Hoffman snatched defeat from the jaws of victory © Getty Images

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Marc Leishman watched Charley Hoffman throw his lead away as the Australian claimed victory at the Travelers Championship in Connecticut.

Hoffman looked to be firmly on course for victory after seven birdies saw him boast a two-stroke lead with two holes remaining at TPC River Highlands. But after his tee-shot found the water, a double bogey saw his lead erased and left him in a tie with clubhouse leader at 14-under.

And Hoffman failed to hold his nerve to force a play-off, hitting his tee-shot into the rough and his approach into a bunker as he bogeyed the last to hand victory to Leishman.

Hoffman finished in a tie for second with Masters champion Bubba Watson, whose bogey-free round of 65 saw him finish on 13-under. Watson was ultimately left to rue a wayward tee-shot on the 15th which found the water, as he failed to sink a birdie putt on the final five holes.

Overnight leaders Brian Davis and Roland Thatcher finished a further stroke adrift, alongside Tim Clark and John Rollins. Englishman Davis could only card an even-par 70 on the final day as he was unable to replicate his Saturday putting effort on the front nine.

Defending champion Fredrik Jacobson claimed a share of eighth place following his final-round 68. But the round of the day undoubtedly went to American Hunter Mahan, who surged up the leaderboard with a bogey-free nine-under 61.

It was also a day to remember for Rory Sabbatini, as he recorded his first hole-in-one on the PGA Tour on the 16th. The South African finished two shots behind Mahan on eight-under.

US Open winner Webb Simpson endured a topsy-turvy round on Sunday, with a double-bogey on the par-four 14th ending any hopes he had of contending for the title. Simpson ended the tournament six-under the card.

Ireland's Padraig Harrington moved to 10-under with a solid round of 69, two shots ahead of Englishman Gary Christian. Ian Poulter was well off the pace after shooting a one-over 71 in the final round.

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