• Valero Texas Open, Round Four

Steele stays strong to take maiden tour title

Brendan Steele held on to win his maiden tour title at the Valero Texas Open © PA Photos

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Rookie Brendan Steele just about held his nerve to secure his first victory on the PGA Tour at the Valero Texas Open.

The California native, who started the day atop the leaderboard, only became a full member of the tour this season - but became the 16th player to win their first event at the Texas Open with a final round 71 and eight-under total at TPC San Antonio.

The 28-year-old Steele was pushed all the way by Kevin Chappell, who was ultimately let down by a poor pitch shot into the penultimate hole.

While the likes of Brandt Snedeker (six-under) and Charley Hoffman (seven-under) stayed in touch with the leaders for much of a final round that saw a tough course made even harder by a stiff breeze, by the back nine it had clearly descended into a straight duel between Chappell and Steele, who were both looking for their maiden victories on tour.

Neither man looked like giving an inch in their battle, although equally neither could quite find the quality to break away from the other - as both men made par on six successive holes between 11 and 16 after Chappell had clawed himself onto level terms with three front nine birdies.

The short 17th would prove the difference, however, as both men pitched into the green from similar positions. But while Steele played his shot into about 12 feet before claiming a safe par, Chappell short-sided himself with a poor shot that missed the green, eventually leaving a ten-footer for par that he raced past in making a sloppy bogey.

That left him playing catch-up down the par-five last, a task made harder as he found the rough with his tee-shot, while his opponent found the middle of the fairway. But both players laid up - perhaps sensible decisions considering the circumstances, their respective lies and the water-strewn nature of the hole - but then squandered that tactical move as both overshot the green with relatively straightforward approach shots.

Steele played first, nearly holing his shot but succeeding only in leaving himself a six-footer that would turn out to be for the win, after Chappell's own effort came up some way short. And that he would do, rolling it dead centre to clinch his victory.

Chappell followed him in, at least securing a share of second alongside Hoffman.

Elsewhere, defending champion Adam Scott endured a disappointing final round, seeing a succession of shots slip away over the back nine as he carded a 76 to finish level. Sweden's Fredrik Jacobson fared rather better, carving out a final round 69 that jumped him into a top five finish.

Similarly, Scotland's Martin Laird finished very well - finding two birdies over the final two holes to sign for a 70 and a total of three-under that secured him another top ten finish in the United States.

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