Straka shot an 8-under 64 on Saturday in his third straight bogey-free round, staking the newly bald Austrian to a four-shot lead over Charley Hoffman, Jason Day and Justin Lower in the Coachella Valley desert.
The 31-year-old Austrian won the American Express at PGA West without carding a bogey until the 70th hole of the tournament.
Straka, one of more than a dozen active PGA Tour players from the University of Georgia, followed up his third-round 64 with a 70 on Sunday at the Stadium Course and at 25-under-par 263 won The American Express by two shots over Justin Thomas (66).
Sepp Straka won The American Express by two shots over Justin Thomas on Sunday, finishing his third career PGA Tour victory at 25-under 263 with a final-round 70.
Sepp Straka won $1,584,000 million for capturing his third PGA Tour title on Jan. 19 at The American Express. It was enough to jump 18 spots on the money list. It wasn't enough to catch Hideki Matsuyama or Collin Morikawa.
Thomas has also reached a new plateau in terms of career earnings. His second place in La Quinta put another $959,200 in his bank account, and that makes him the 11th golfer in PGA Tour history to surpass the $60 million mark in on-course earnings.
Austria’s Sepp Straka clinched his third PGA Tour title with a two-shot victory at The American Express in California. Heading into Sunday’s final round with a four-shot lead, Straka was able to hold his nerve despite two late dropped shots to get across the line carding two under 70.
Straka played with his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour on Sunday, and he managed to maintain control of the tournament until the end.
Austrian Sepp Straka conquered his nerves to capture his third US PGA Tour title in convincing style Sunday, firing a two-under-par 70 to win
American Express prize money: Check out how much how much champion Sepp Straka and the rest of the field won at the PGA Tour event. Sepp Straka picked up this third PGA Tour title at The American Express. The big Austrian slept on the first 54-hole lead of his career.
Straka remained aggressive and stayed well in front while hunting down a comfortable two-shot victory over Justin Thomas.