Slow process but Na lands first PGA title

Known for being one of the slowest players on the PGA Tour, Kevin Na had to wait until almost the end of his eighth year on the US circuit before celebrating his first victory.

The South Korea-born American finally broke through after holding off the challenge of world No 11 Nick Watney at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas, triumphing by two shots at the TPC Summerlin.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Las Vegas resident Na after earning a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a cheque for $792,000 with his long-awaited victory.

“Nick was coming right behind me, and it looked like any time he was going to make a move. I tried as best as I could to stay one step ahead of him. The putt on 17 basically sealed the deal for me.”

Na rolled in a 43-footer at the par-3 17th to stretch his lead to two shots, a putt he prayed would break right shortly before the ball reached the cup.

“It was left off the start and the putt goes right at the end,” the 28-year-old said. “It was perfect, right on line where I wanted it, just left of the hole about three inches.

“Then I just kneeled down on one knee and was just praying that thing would come back. And sure enough it did. When I made that putt, I felt like I had the tournament in the bag.”

Na, whose family moved from South Korea to the US when he was eight, had endured 210 previous starts on the PGA Tour and several near-misses before breaking into the winners’ circle.

“I had a lot of thoughts going through my head throughout the whole round today,” he said after recording three birdies in the last four holes. “I pictured myself winning, pictured myself failing, but mostly I pictured myself winning.”

Na, a top junior, had been a runner-up three times on the PGA Tour.