Rookie Jake Knapp held on to claim his maiden PGA Tour title, despite seeing his four-shot overnight lead wiped out early in the final round of the Mexico Open.
The 29-year-old's level-par 71 was enough to hold off the challenge of Finland’s Sami Valimaki, who hit a closing 69 to finish two shots back.
Knapp saw his four-shot buffer halved as he bogeyed two of the first three holes, Valimaki moving within one with a birdie on the fourth.
The Finn eagled the short par four seventh to draw level as Knapp claimed his first birdie of the day.
He added just one more on the 14th, but Valimaki had dropped three shots by then and could not close the gap again.
"Didn't necessarily have my best stuff today, that's for sure," Knapp told the Golf Channel after his victory.
"Knew it was nerve-wracking, knew it was going to be tough. Kind of told (his caddie), I was like, 'After those first three holes, that's as bad as we could have played and we've still got a two-shot lead'.
"It would have been nice to hit the driver better and hit it a little bit better, but was super-pumped on how I played in the finishing stretch."
The American took time away from the game in 2021 and 2022, saving up money while working as a bouncer in his hometown of Costa Mesa, California.
After returning to the Korn Ferry Tour, he earned his PGA Tour card for the first time last autumn and quickly made noise with a tie for third at the Farmers Insurance Open in January.
Knapp’s win earns him a place at the US Masters, PGA Championship and the five signature events remaining on the PGA Tour.
Germany's Stephan Jaeger, CT Pan of Taiwan and Justin Lower tied for third at 14 under.
Padraig Harrington carded a closing 70 to add to earlier rounds of 72, 66 and 72 as the Dubliner finished in a share of 52nd on four under.
