American Matt Kuchar kept his composure while others around him caved under the pressure to win The Players Championship tournament by two shots on Sunday.
Kuchar closed with a two-under 70 to finish at 13-under-par 275 for his fourth win on the USPGA Tour. Of the four wins, it is by far the biggest title of his career.
“What an amazing feeling to hoist this trophy and win among one of the strongest fields in golf,” Kuchar said.
Martin Laird rolled in five birdies in a seven-hole stretch from the seventh to grab a share of the lead. But Laird closed with a bogey for a five-under 67 at the TPC Sawgrass.
Laird shared second place at 11-under-par 277 with Zach Johnson (68), Ben Curtis (68) and Rickie Fowler (70).
Luke Donald closed with a six-under 66 to end alone in sixth at minus-nine. He needed a solo fourth or better to regain the world No. 1 ranking.
Third-round leader Kevin Na stumbled to a four-over 76 as he dropped into a tie for seventh place at eight-under-par 280.
Na was trying to be the first 54-hole leader to win the title since Canada’s Stephen Ames did so in 2006.
