Austria’s Sepp Straka won his third PGA Tour title by two strokes at the American Express in California.

Taking a four-shot lead into Sunday’s final round, Straka kept his composure despite missing the final two shots and shot a two-under 70 to beat the challenge of runner-up Justin Thomas. .

Straka, the first Austrian to win on tour three years ago, finished at 25 under in La Quinta, Calif., but admitted he had lost control over the four-day tournament. He was nervous after bogeying two of the last three holes during the tournament.

“Nerves, totally nerves,” Straka said. “My stomach was in knots, the whole nine. So, yeah, I’m really excited about the way I handled the pressure today.”

Thomas shot a 66 to finish at 23 under, one stroke ahead of fellow American Justin Lower (69) and Australia’s Jason Day (69) for third place. . Lore achieved the best result of his Tour career. Patrick Cantlay and Charley Hoffman were at 20 under.

Straka was hitting the greens regularly and putting well and was just three holes away from becoming the first Tour player since 2022 to go 72 holes without a bogey until he hit his second shot on No. 16. The rough area on the far right after entering the berm. He missed the green with his third shot and then narrowly missed a 17-foot par putt.

He then hit his approach shot into the bunker on No. 18 and missed his 23-foot par putt, but buried his 4-foot bogey putt and celebrated with a minimal fist pump.

“This golf course, you really can’t relax,” Straka said. “You still have to make a really aggressive swing because you’re one shot away from a double bogey. I think the biggest challenge today was staying aggressive with my target.”

Thomas, who tied for third at the American Express last year, birdied six of his first 11 holes in the final round to briefly cut Straka’s lead to three shots.

The two-time PGA Championship champion ran out of steam on the back nine and ended the round with seven straight pars in search of his first Tour victory since 2022.

“I had a chance,” Thomas said. “Obviously, the back nine wasn’t a great game, but I’m proud of myself. I did what I needed to do on the front nine today to at least make some noise and move up the leaderboard. Unfortunately , stopped there after eleven and played some really, really good golf today.”

Day, another former PGA Championship winner, has just one victory since 2018. He failed to charge in the final group with Straka, and a bogey on No. 15 pushed him out of range. Shoot 69 during the day.

Hoffman, who was also in the final group, was three shots back with Thomas and Day before sinking two tee shots into the water on the par-3 13th for a triple bogey.

Straka entered the final round with a lead Sunday for the first time in his career. He played with confidence from the start, sinking a 12-foot birdie putt on the first hole. He hit his tee shot within 13 feet for another birdie on the fourth hole and added another with a superb approach shot on the seventh hole.

Straka also made par after hitting his ball into the rough on the fifth hole, and he saved par again after his tee shot on the eighth hole fell into a bunker on the right side.

Thomas started his round with back-to-back birdies, adding another on the fifth hole and then birdied three of the four holes around the turn to start his run. Narrowly missed a 34-foot eagle putt on the eighth hole and buried 16. Foot putt for birdie on the ninth hole.

But Straka birdied No. 13, hitting his tee shot within 8 feet to extend his lead to four shots.

Defending champion Nick Dunlap shot a 68 in the event and tied for 34th, becoming the first amateur to win on tour in 33 years.

Sony Open champion Nick Taylor continued his strong start to the season with a 67 to finish in a six-way tie for 12th.

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