PALM HARBOR, Fla. – Charl Schwartzel is a silent assassin. In 2011, he became the first player to birdie the final four holes to win the Masters. That victory brought the South African native fame and fortune and a five-year ticket to play the PGA Tour. But there was another side to the coin: expectations soared, and when Schwartzel failed to deliver on his promise, his confidence took a hit.
“You start thinking, ‘Am I actually going to win again out here?’ ” he said.
Schwartzel waited nearly five years, but the wait is over after he shot the lowest final-round score, a 4-under 67, at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort, and rallied from five strokes back to steal the Valspar Championship in a playoff over Bill Haas.