Golf

Vaughn Taylor snatches first win in 11 years with stunning 65

The 39-year-old former Ryder Cup player won his first tournament in 11 years

Vaughn Taylor plays his approach to the last on the way to winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour. Photo: Getty Images
Vaughn Taylor plays his approach to the last on the way to winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the PGA Tour. Photo: Getty Images
Sun Feb 14 2016 - 23:49

American journeyman Vaughn Taylor ended a PGA Tour title drought of more than a decade with an explosive back nine to clinch a one-shot victory at the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in California on Saturday.

Taylor, who was on the US Ryder Cup team in 2006 at the K Club, began the final round six strokes off the pace but five birdies after the turn propelled him to a closing seven-under-par 65 at a blustery Pebble Beach Golf Links as he posted a winning total of 17-under 270.

Overnight leader Phil Mickelson, seeking his first PGA Tour win since the 2013 British Open, stunningly missed a five-foot birdie putt at the last to force a playoff and had to settle for second place after carding a roller-coaster 72.

Swede Jonas Blixt (69) was a further stroke back in third at 15 under.

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For Padraig Harrington a disappointing final round 74 saw him finish on seven under par in a tie for 21st while Shane Lowry was a further five shots back in a tie for 41st.