Patton Kizzire chipped in for eagle on the par-5 fifth hole and held on to claim the Procore Championship at Silverado Resort in Napa on Sept. 15, his first PGA Tour win in six years.
“That was huge,” Kazzire, 38, said of the momentum-changing shot that was set up by a 40-yard hook with a 6-iron from the fairway that found a “decent” lie behind the green. “When that ball went in the hole, I had a jolt of confidence. I felt like I had the tournament again.”
Kizzire shot a final round 2-under 70 to finish at 20-under par, five shots ahead of David Lipsky, who closed within two strokes after a birdie on the par-3 11th. Kizzire responded with three birdies over the next four holes to seal his first victory since the 2018 Sony Open in Hawaii, and third career victory on the PGA Tour.
Defending champion Sahith Theegala tied for seventh at 12-under. Past champions Max Homa, a UC Berkeley graduate, and Cameron Champ, a Youth on Course alum, missed the cut.
Kizzire, who was in danger of losing PGA Tour status entering the first week of the fall schedule, had missed his previous two cuts. The Alabama native recently hired a mental health coach, and during the week kept a note on his yardage book that read, “I am here. I am now,” to remain present. “It really hit home with me coming into today with a four-shot lead,” he said.
After his victory, Kazzire celebrated greenside with wife Kari. Fellow PGA Tour veterans Mackenzie Hughes and Keith Mitchell stayed around to douse their friend with champagne.
“I love the golf course, I love the people,” Kazzire said of Silverado Resort, where he finished second in 2016. “Great food, great wine. What’s not to like?”