Points holds on for Houston Open win

HOUSTON, Texas: D.A. Points stayed steady Sunday after a lengthy rain delay, firing a six-under par 66 for a one-stroke victory in the $6.2 million US PGA Tour Houston Open.

Points was on the course at 16-under with four holes to finish -- one shot in front of clubhouse leader Henrik Stenson -- when a thunderstorm halted final round play.

The American player came back after a delay of almost three hours and
parred his way in, celebrating with a shout and fist-pump when his 13-foot par putt dropped at 18 to give him a 16-under winning total of 272.

The win gives Points a place in the Masters, as did his only prior PGA Tour triumph at Pebble Beach two years ago.

Points had parred three holes after the rain delay before a wobble at 18, where his second shot just missed a bunker right of the green.

He chipped to 13 feet, and rolled in the putt to avoid a playoff with Stenson and Horschel.

weden's Stenson had birdied four of his last five holes to seize the clubhouse lead before the delay.

Stenson, a former top-five player whose effort enabled him to qualify for the Masters, carded a six-under par 66 to finish 72 holes on 15-under 273.

American Billy Horschel was level with Stenson at 15-under with only the 18th hole remaining. He finished with a par to complete a 66 that left him tied for second.

Dustin Johnson was in the clubhouse with a 65 for 14-under 274 before the break, and was joined there by fellow American Ben Crane, who carded a 68.

American Jason Kokrak was 14-under through 15 holes when the horn sounded to stop play, with a dozen players on the course.

Kokrak couldn't keep pace, closing with a double-bogey at 18 to fall into ninth place.

In all, eight players had seized at least a share of the lead during the last-round shootout for the $1.08 million top prize.

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who could have reclaimed the World No. 1
ranking from Tiger Woods with a victory this week, matched his best round of the event with a two-under 70 to finish on 284.

He birdied the last two holes on both the front and back nines but consecutive bogeys at 11 and 12 set him back. (AFP)