John Senden wins Valspar Championship

Australia's John Senden produced a superb finish to win the Valspar Championship at the Innisbrook Resort in Florida by a single shot over Kevin Na of the USA.

Senden chipped in for a birdie on the testing 16th (only two birdies were recorded on the hole all day,) then rolled in a good putt on the 17th for another birdie to take a two-shot lead. A par at the last was enough to hold off Kevin Na. It was the Australian's first PGA Tour win since the John Deere Classic of 2006.

"It's something that makes you believe more that you can get it done again, rather than just once and thinking back then in `06, `Was it a flash in the pan?' I don't believe so," he said. "But now it makes me feel validated from the John Deere."

With the win, Senden has moved to 14th on the FedEx Cup rankings and has earned a start at The Masters.

Robert Garrigus began the final round with a one-shot lead but it quickly evaporated. His drive on the third bounced of a chair and a tree and that led to a double-bogey. Another double on the 6th meant he went out in 41. In the end he did well to recover to post a closing 75 and end the week in a tie for fourth.

Kevin Na also endured a poor front nine, but he kept himself in contention down the stretch. He saved par after nearly finding water on the 16th, then birdied the 17th. He had a putt on the 18th to force a playoff but he couldn't make it. He closed with a one-over-par 72 and finished a shot back.

"I knew coming into today that I felt like if I shot par I had a chance to win," he said. "If I didn't it was always going to be tough."

Valspar Championship Innisbrook Resort - Copperhead, Palm Harbor, Florida Mar 13-16, purse $5,700,000, par 71

1   John Senden (Aus)   72   71   64   70   277   $1,026,000 2   Kevin Na (USA)      70   68   68   72   278   $615,600 3   Scot Langley (USA)   71   69   69   70   279   $387,600 T4   Luke Donald (Eng)   71   72   67   70   280   $235,600 T4   Robert Garrigus (USA)   69   66   70   75   280   $235,600 T4   Will MacKenzie (USA)   73   70   68   69   280   $235,600 7   George McNeill (USA)   73   71   67   70   281   $190,950 T8   Graham DeLaet (Can)   75   68   71   68   282   $148,200 T8   Matt Every (USA)      68   71   72   71   282   $148,200 T8   David Hearn (Can)   71   70   70   71   282   $148,200 T8   Matteo Manassero (Ita)   69   70   71   72   282   $148,200 T8   Justin Rose (Eng)      71   68   69   74   282   $148,200 T8   Gary Woodland (USA)   72   71   70   69   282   $148,200

Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Where next? European Tour - Alejandro Canizares wins Trophee Hassan II