{"id":1242298,"date":"2023-03-06T02:36:38","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T02:36:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/?p=1242298"},"modified":"2023-03-17T09:29:31","modified_gmt":"2023-03-17T09:29:31","slug":"puerto-rico-open-2023-r4-nico-echavarria-claims-first-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/golftoday.co.uk\/puerto-rico-open-2023-r4-nico-echavarria-claims-first-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Nico Echavarria claims first title"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colombia\u2019s Nico Echavarria started the week on the heels of four consecutive missed cuts but closed with a 68 to reach 21-under and claim his first career PGA Tour title in 11th start. He earned a place in this week\u2019s Players Championship and becomes fully exempt through the 2024-25 season.<\/p>\n

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“With the way I was playing the last couple weeks, at Honda, that course is really hard but I missed the cut by 8 or 9. At Pebble I missed it by a lot. You just, you just don’t think it’s going to get better until things like this week clicks and finding something on the range on Friday just changes your week.<\/p>\n

“I think like if I wouldn’t have had that practice session on Friday afternoon very late and found what I found, I don’t think I would be here because it cleared my mind up. I was thinking too many things, I was on a bad spot mentally before coming to this week.<\/p>\n

“So you just don’t know when it’s going to happen and that’s why you have to be open minded that it can change anytime and you have to be positive about it. So here we are.<\/p>\n

“I take a lot from this week. Obviously my first win on the PGA Tour. Very happy, very happy with Puerto Rico, it’s awesome. First time here and we go out with a win. So I’m super pumped with how I – my golf game evolved and how it’s going to help for the rest of the year.”<\/p>\n

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Akshay Bhatia of the USA birdied the final four holes for a 65, tying the low round of the day (Cody Gribble T7\/-7), to finish solo-second at 19-under and gain Special Temporary Membership, affording him unlimited sponsor exemptions.<\/p>\n

The finish marks his best in 22 starts and betters his only other top-10 finish of T9 at the 2020 Fortinet Championship.<\/p>\n