South Korean Bae Sang-moon led the pack of golfers swinging to get that Frys.com Open title in California, after a 15-under-par 273 on Sunday.
Bae started off with a big lead and then declined mid-round in his two-shot victory at the final round of 73 tilt held in Silverado Country Club in Napa, Reuters said.
The 28-year-old racked up four bogeys within seven holes mid-round. He then held on to the leader spot and the $1.08 million kitty although losing some of his early lead, the report explained.
According to an Associated Press report on US News, Bae began with a four-shot lead and climbed to six before settling for his last lead of two.
"Sometimes I felt excited too much and sometimes nervous, and sometimes lost focus a little," he was quoted by Reuters as saying. "I didn't want to look at the scoreboards, but I did. I looked a lot. That's why I made a lot of bogeys on the back nine."
"There's always pressure on Sunday because other players behind me are charging, so I tried to maintain my focus and play my own game," He also told ESPN. His most important shot Sunday was a chip behind the green on the par-5 16th, the report explained. The swing led his ball near the hole for a par that maintained his two-shot lead.
Even with the decline, no one became a serious threat on the hot, breezy field, both Reuters and Associated Press agreed.
Australian Steven Bowditch was propelled by an eagle at the par-five 16th to snatch the second spot on 13-under at the opening event of the tour's 2014-15 season. According to SBS.com, he started trailing eight shots, shot a five-under-par back nine of 31, and then shot three birdies in his back nine.
The United States' highest finishers are Hunter Mahan and Bryce Molder.
Golf Channel reported that Mahan, one of four who were in the Ryder Cup weeks ago, cut Bae's lead to three shots after a second try from 91 yards at the par-four 13th.
That swing that brought an eagle was just how he dealt with his inconsistent putting, PGA said. That was the highlight of his odd showing, where he faced recurring hits and misses, begun by a bogey par-three on the second hole shot back one hole later.
ESPN noted that eagle looked like a full steam ahead until he made a poor chip in the 15th that led to a bogey and then a poor 16th. He closed with a 70 tied with Molder and Retief Goosen, Hideki Matsuyama and Martin Laird.
According to the Reuters report, the Sunday win is Bae's second victory in the PGA Tour and 12th internationally. Saying the win is the beginning of his glory days in golf, he hopes to play in the Presidents Cup next year and the Olympics in 2016.
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