After Peter Malnati’s Sunday 67 won him the Valspar Championship, he broke down reflecting on his first PGA Tour win in more than nine years.
Peter Malnati, a 36-year-old journeyman and PGA Tour Policy Board member ranked 184th in the world, triumphed at the Valspar Championship, marking his second PGA Tour victory and his first in over eight years since the 2015 Sanderson Championship. Not initially favored to win, Malnati’s recent attention wasn’t for his golf but rather his role in the PGA Tour’s dealings, including a controversial invite to the Arnold Palmer Invitational and discussions on the Tour’s future. Despite this, he managed a remarkable final-round 67 at Innisbrook, winning by two shots at 12 under. Malnati, visibly emotional, acknowledged the difficulty of his journey, the support of his family and caddie, and the joy of overcoming challenges to achieve this victory. Throughout the final day, he was part of a tight leaderboard and managed to gain a share of the lead after a crucial par save and a string of birdies, eventually securing his win amidst intense competition.
