Holmes Edges Hard-Charging Furyk in Wells Fargo Championship


Jim Furyk gave it his all in trying to tie or beat J.B. Holmes in the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship. The 43-year-old closed with a 7-under 65 in the $6.9 million PGA Tour event at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte.

But Holmes, who began Sunday a shot ahead of Martin Flores, survived two bogeys in his final three holes - sandwiched around a clutch par on the 17th - for a 71 and a 72-hole total of 14-under 274, a mere one stroke ahead of Furyk.

The victory, worth $1.242 million, 500 FedEx Cup points and a spot in the upcoming Players Championship, was the first victory for Holmes since the 2008 FBR Open. The 32-year-old Kentuckian's first win came in the same tournament in Phoenix two years before.

With his third title, Holmes has fully recovered after undergoing brain surgery three years ago. He secured the Wells Fargo Championship by making a four-foot bogey putt on the par-4 18th.

He was understandably thrilled with the win and his comeback. "It's been a long journey for me," Holmes told reporters. "I've had some ups and downs. It's a great feeling to be out there and to get one done."

Furyk, looking for his 16th PGA Tour title, gave it a valiant effort on Sunday, carding five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 16th hole. He could've put more pressure on Holmes or surpassed him, but Furyk parred the final two holes to finish at 13-under.

Flores finished with an even-par 72 for solo third at 12-under, while another shot back was Jason Bohn (70). Reigning U.S. Open champion Justin Rose had a 71 for fifth at 277, and another stroke back were Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge (69) and American Kevin Kisner (73).

Sharing eighth at 8-under 280 were Rory Sabbatini (67), Roberto Castro (70) and 2010 Wells Fargo champion Rory McIlroy (70).

Phil Mickelson shot a 9-under 63 to surge to the top of the leaderboard and only two strokes behind Holmes entering the final round. But the five-time major champion stumbled to a 4-over 76 Sunday to drop into a share of 11th at 281 with Kevin Chappell (68) and Michael Thompson (72).

Derek Ernst, who won the tournament last year, shot a 74 to end up T-30 at 285.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.