2018.07.08 09:26
Published: July 8, 2018
Kevin Na holds the trophy after winning the Military Tribute PGA Tour Golf Tournament at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., Sunday, July 8, 2018. (AP Photo/Steve Helber), The Associated Press
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — Kevin Na rode a hot putter to halt a winless streak of nearly seven years on the PGA Tour.
Na shot a 6-under-64 for a five-stroke victory at A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier on Sunday.
The 34-year-old Na's only previous tour win came in Las Vegas in October 2011.
"I wasn't sure if it was going to come again. I was hoping it would — sooner than later," Na said. "I've been close so many times, failed so many times."
He's had three dozen top-10 finishes since that last win and showed signs earlier this year that reaching the top again was still well within reach. He tied for second at the Genesis Open in January, two shots behind Bubba Watson. In late May he shot 61 in the first round of the Fort Worth Invitational to match the course record and finished fourth.
Starting Sunday's round one stroke behind co-leaders Harold Varner and Kelly Kraft, Na birdied six of his first 10 holes to open a big lead on the Old White TPC, and he cruised from there. The only blemish on his card was a bogey on the par-4 11th after driving into the rough.
Na finished at 19-under 261 and picked up the $1.31 million winner's paycheck. He improved 40 spots to No. 18 in the FedEx Cup standings.
Kraft shot 70 and finished second at 14 under. Brandt Snedeker (64) and Jason Kokrak (67) tied for third at 13 under.
Na was one shot behind co-leaders Kraft and Harold Varner to begin the day. His birdie stretch included making putts of 24, 33 and 43 feet.
"My putter got hot," Na said. "The first day the putter felt awful, and (then) it just clicked. Every time I got over the ball it felt great, and everything felt like it was going in."
By the time he strolled up to the 18th green, Na was at ease, relaying his love to his wife and young daughter toward a TV camera. He cried during a television interview after the round as he relayed a message in Korean to his overseas fans.
"I didn't want to leave the Korean fans out," Na said.
The only drama down the stretch was who would pick up the last of the tournament's four qualifying spots to the British Open in two weeks. Na had already earned a spot. Varner needed to make a birdie putt on either No. 17 or 18 to get there, but he parred both holes. That gave the final spot to Austin Cook.
Kraft, Kokrak and Snedeker were the other qualifiers. The leading four players not already exempt from the top-12 finishers qualified.
Kraft said his first British Open bid helped take away some of the sting of losing the lead Sunday.
"Obviously, I would have loved to win after leading coming into today, but, you know, sometimes you run into a guy that makes a lot of putts," Kraft said.
No third-round leader has gone on to win the tournament since its debut in 2010. Varner shot 72 and finished tied for fifth at 12 under along with Cook (66), Joaquin Niemann (64), Sam Saunders (70) and Joel Dahmen (69).
The 19-year-old Niemann already has four top-10 finishes in eight events this season and has secured special temporary membership on tour.
Defending champion Xander Schauffele, who was one shot behind when the round started, bogeyed five of his first six holes. He shot 75 and finished 11 shots back.
2018.07.08 10:03
2018.07.08 10:27
He often led the round until Saturday. Then on Sunday, he became so tight that
made stupid mistakes or missed makable putts. Today, he was different.
A commentator was saying that he found something in his putting yesterday.
And the ball was falling into the hole very nicely. Good putting, the equalizer
always helps the entire game. Perhaps, he can play at ease on Sunday from now on
and win more tournaments. He is not a small player. He earned almost 30 m so far.
2018.07.08 11:10
Sei Young Kim shattered the record books this week at @thornberrylpga!
8:51 PM · Jul 8, 2018 This is a special day for Korean golf: both PGA and LPGA tournaments were won by Korean players by wide margins.
Sei Young made a history in record book of LPGA with lowest score and all.
2018.07.08 11:39
On Kevin Na...
The emotional tears from him as he thanked Korean families and fans today made my eyes warm too.
He was so much emotionally overtaken that he could not speak for a while as he started Korean greetings.
(Please see the video by clicking his picture at Dr. H.J. Lee's first comment above.)
I could tell that his tears and emotions were true to his heart.
Through 7 years' of championship drought, he must have worked for Korean Americans.
He apparently has never forgotten the Korean root of his.
Kevin plays under the US flag but he was born in Seoul in 1983 and came to the US when he was 10.
I really appreciate his thoughts and care on us with (despite of) the PGA championship trophy in his hands.
Many second-generation Koreans will not do such things in an arrogance or in a shame that they are Koreans.
Some of them think they are "white" already by then. This makes me sick but not Kevin Na.
Thanks a million, Kevin !! And job well done.
If my memory is correct, I heard that he came through "백상배" Korean Golf Tournaments.
(백상배 is a Korean golf tournament played locally and then winners go to national Open Tournament.
I happened to play there once, not that I was a good player but all Koreans were invited.)
So, he seems to have a lot of Korean connections, not like other second-generation Korean American players
who tend to stay aloof from his Korean friends and relatives.
With my best wishes for his continuing success !!
2018.07.08 12:29
I happened to have a high school classmate, a long time resident in Diamond Bar, CA,
and played at Diamond Bar Golf Club a few times where Kevin learned to play golf
from his father. Kevin attended Diamond Bar High School and is well known there.
Kevin was actually 8 yrs of age, the youngest of three children when he came here.
Unfortunately his father has been being treated for leukemia since 2011, and
Kevin, being a good son, is very worried about him.
Kevin, as our WM said, is genuine, full-bloodied Korean man with strong identity,
intelligence, perseverance and determination, yet doesn't hesitate to show his emotions.
He has a beautiful wife and one child.
We got to know him better after watching him on TV today, and he showed his sincerity
and where he came from and what he is made of.
He conducted himself so well and made all Koreans proud.
2018.07.08 12:59
Congratulation to Kevin Na for his 2nd PGA Win!
I am glad you are able to take off mokey from
your 2nd place doldrums! KJ
2018.07.08 16:20
Congratulations, first of all.
This is the way to his victory
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LKw6cj07Hg
But once upon a time, he shot 16 at Par 4, worst ever recorded at PGA Tour!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWTXoNzuk8c
No wonder he looks old for his age.
Probably, he learned life is all about Ups & Downs.
Still,
Congratulations, Kevin!
An emotional Kevin Na's message to his Korean fans
0:42
25.3K views
6:19 PM · Jul 8, 2018 click the picture and listen to his special thanks to Korean fans, We Koreans are so proud of him, indeed.