Martin Rallies for Maiden Title


Ben Martin got hot at the right time Sunday. The 27-year-old went 4-under par on the final four holes to win the $6.2 million Shriners Hospital for Children Open at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas.

The rookie, who graduated to the PGA Tour off the Web.com Tour, birdied the par-4 15th, eagled the par-5 16th and birdied the par-4 last to close with a 3-under 68 for a four-round total of 20-under 264, two strokes ahead of Kevin Streelman, who shot 63 and 65 over the weekend.

Beginning the final round with a two-shot edge over Scotsman Russell Knox, Martin treaded water on the front nine with a birdie and a bogey. The South Carolinian didn't improve much at the start of the home half, putting up four pars and a bogey on the par-4 11th.

But Martin's heroics down the stretch in the season's second event were important, making his win worth $1.08 million, 500 FedEx Cup points and a two-year Tour exemption.

"It was an awesome way to finish," an excited Martin said. "I didn't feel like I had much going all day. Four-under on my last four to cap my first win was just awesome."

Streelman, who held the lead late, was surprised when he looked up at the leaderboard. "I saw I was one up on the 18th green, and then I saw I was one down."

Knox finished with a 70 to end up in third at 16-under, while another stroke back were defending champion Webb Simpson (68), Brooks Koepka (68) and Jimmy Walker (69).

Sharing seventh at 270 were Tony Finau (67), Las Vegas native Scott Piercy (69) and Canada's David Hearn (68).

Adam Hadwin fired Sunday's low round, a 63, moving the Canadian into a share of 10th at 13-under with Scott Brown, Hideki Matsuyama, Robert Streb, Spencer Levin and Brandt Snedeker.

For complete scoring details, visit http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html.