|
 Herman, whose event preparation included a social round with U.S.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, shed tears of joy
after carding a closing four-under-par 68 at the Golf Club of
Houston in Humble, Texas.
And he wasted no time giving partial credit to Trump for even being
on tour, after spending years in the golfing wilderness.
"He helped me financially, wrote me a check. He gave me a lot of
confidence," Herman, who was a teaching pro at Trump National in New
Jersey a decade ago, told reporters.
Herman seized his moment with a chip-in birdie at the 16th hole to
take the lead, before closing with flawless pars at the final two
holes, tapping in his winning putt from two feet to finish at
15-under 273.
 Swede Henrik Stenson (68) finished in second place after missing an
18-foot birdie putt at the last.
Herman, 38, has never played the Masters and had not come close to
winning in 105 career starts on the PGA Tour.
"I never thought it was possible," Herman said, his voice cracking
with emotion.
He described how far he had come after being forced back to the tour
qualifying school seven times after being unable to keep his card.
"This would never have been possible two years ago," he said. "There
were some shots I couldn't have hit under the pressure. I was pretty
low with my game. I couldn't get out of my own way.
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"I'm pretty proud of myself, first time in the final group to get up
there and bring it home. I was not given the tournament. I played
really well, nine-under on the weekend."
He also spoke of his relationship with Trump, and how they teamed up
for a round last Saturday in Palm Beach, Florida.
"He was my partner. I played really well. I shot eight-under."
Stenson, meanwhile, posted his eighth runner-up finish on the PGA
Tour, to go with four victories.
One of the best players never to have won a major, he will head to
Augusta at least in the knowledge that his game is in good shape.
Jordan Spieth (70), who will open defense of his Masters title on
Thursday, double-bogeyed the final hole and finished seven strokes
off the pace.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Frank
Pingue)
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