John Senden has punched his ticket to next month’s Masters after a riveting victory at the Valspar Championship on the PGA Tour.

John Senden not only gets a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour, he has booked a return ticket to the Masters next month. PHOTO: Getty Images

The Queenslander returned to the site of two of his four-career runner-up finishes with limited form but fond memories of the Innisbrook Copperhead course and grafted a one-stroke triumph. It is just his second title in largely consistent but trophy-barren 13-year PGA Tour career. His only previous title was the John Deere Classic in 2006.

In windy conditions in the final round when the overnight leaders slid back to the pack, Senden plucked birdies from the early par-5s and saved numerous pars from tough spots off the greens. For such a peerless ball-striker, it was the 42-year-old’s short game that kept him in the race.

Case in point was the 16th hole where Senden authored the signature moment of the tournament. Having missed the fairway badly left and blasted a low hook off a dicey pinestraw lie among tall trees to the light rough short of the green, he struck a perfect chip shot that dropped in the cup at the end of its 65-foot journey. With momentum restored, Senden found the centre of the difficult par-3 17th green and promptly holed the 20-footer to reach seven-under with a decisive birdie.

Kevin Na, who disappeared from view after a horror end to his front nine, re-emerged to birdie the 14th and 17th holes to draw within a stroke of Senden’s lead. The American’s charge ended when his long birdie putt on the final green stayed wide.

Senden received a congratulatory hug from his long-time coach Ian Triggs and his caddie Josh Cassell before reflecting on a memorable week at a venue he clearly has a special affinity with.

“I just love the way the course flows in amongst the trees and just the difficulty of the course,” Senden said. “The scoring always stays under double-figures [below par] here and I think that if I could just stay in the moment I knew that I was swinging well enough to go out there and give it a shake.”

Senden built this victory on a stellar third-round 64, which rocketed him into third place on Saturday night and ignited his confidence. When third-round leaders Robert Garrigus and Na imploded on the front nine on the final day, Senden’s mostly solid play was good enough to build a small lead and hang on.

John Senden plays his approach to the 18th hole to set up a par and second PGA Tour victory. PHOTO: Getty Images

He can now make plans to be in Augusta in three weeks’ time for his fifth Masters, joining defending champion Adam Scott, Jason Day, Marc Leishman and amateur Oliver Goss as this year’s Australian contingent.

LEADERBOARD

1. John Senden (Qld)   72-71-64-70—277

2. Kevin Na (US)   70-68-68-72—278

3. Scott Langley (US)   71-69-69-70—279

T4. Will MacKenzie (US)   73-70-68-69—280

T4. Luke Donald (Eng)   71-72-67-70—280

T4. Robert Garrigus (US)   69-66-70-75—280

 ALSO:

T32. Robert Allenby (Vic)                               73-71-70-72—286

T44. Greg Chalmers (WA)                               68-72-72-76—288

T58. Stuart Appleby (Vic)                               71-73-74-72—290

T65. Marc Leishman (Vic)                               75-69-74-73—291

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