Former Open champion Brian Harman won his first event since lifting the Claret Jug in 2023 with victory at the Valero Texas Open.
The left-hander, who triumphed at Royal Liverpool two years ago, recovered from a mid-round wobble when his overnight three-stroke lead was cut to one to eventually card a three-over round of 75 and win by three.
Andrew Novak's hopes of a Masters invitation which would have come with a win looked to have disappeared when Harman birdied the 12th and 14th to re-establish the three-shot cushion.
However, Harman’s bogey at the 16th put Novak back in the frame but he missed his opportunity with a duffed chip from the back of the 17th green costing him a shot.
And when Novak dragged his drive into the heavy rough at the par-five last any slim hopes were over and Harman could finally relax.
"The last two days felt like they took an eternity, with the wind it felt like a nightmare out there," Harman told Sky Sports.
Fellow American Ryan Gerard was also hoping to snatch a late trip to Augusta but after reaching the turn in 33 he managed only one birdie on the back nine.
But his round of 69 for a six-under total was good enough for second outright after Novak’s bogey at the last dropped him into a tie for third after a 76.
