PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Jason Kokrak came within 8 inches of keeping alive his dreams of a PGA Tour victory.
The 33-year-old entered this week’s Valspar Championship winless in 196 career starts on Tour, a testament to a consistent career that has yielded few serious chances to contend with a trophy on the line. But Kokrak had just such an opportunity this weekend at Innisbrook, where a third-round ace propelled him into contention and steady play during the final round kept him there.
Kokrak began the day two shots behind eventual winner Paul Casey, but he joined Casey and Louis Oosthuizen at the top when he became the only player in the final round to birdie the difficult par-3 13th.