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Tony Finau holds nerve in play-off to take Puerto Rico Open

Tony Finau: 'I'm still a bit overawed, it hasn't all sunk in yet.'
Tony Finau: 'I'm still a bit overawed, it hasn't all sunk in yet.'

Ryder Cup star Ian Poulter failed to secure his first victory since 2012 as Tony Finau won his maiden PGA Tour title in a play-off in the Puerto Rico Open.

Poulter, who missed out on a place in this week's WGC-Dell Match Play by just 0.044 world ranking points, took a one-shot lead into the final round at Coco Beach but could only manage a closing 72 to finish a shot behind the American pair of Finau and Steve Marino.

Finau eventually won the title with his third straight birdie in the play-off on the par-five 18th after getting up and down from a greenside bunker, while Marino three-putted from long range.

Poulter, who carded one bogey, one birdie and 16 pars in the final round, said: "It's a shame. Just slightly disappointing.

"I'm continuing to work on the game to try and improve and I know if I rectify a couple of poor shots, then my game will improve. Obviously, hitting shots slightly too far right at certain times is costly."

Finau told pgatour.com afterwards: "I'm still a bit overawed, it hasn't all sunk in yet, but I played my heart out today and I'm glad I came out with the win.

"I knew I was going to make some birdies but I knew I was probably going to make some bogeys too, it wasn't easy to judge the distances with the wind.

"I hit a lot of quality shots when I needed to down the stretch - pars were good scores in those last few holes - and I'm happy I made the last putt when I needed to."

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