South Africa's Rory Sabbatini fired a final-round six-under par 64 to win the PGA Byron Nelson Championship on Sunday by two strokes over England's Brian Davis and in tournament-record fashion.

Despite a bogey on the final hole after a run of three birdies in a row, Sabbatini finished on a 72-hole tournament record of 19-under par 261.

"I was just trying to play it smart," Sabbatini said. "I hit a good first putt but it didn't go down."

Sabbatini captured his fifth career US PGA crown at the 6.5 million-dollar tournament, his first triumph since the 2007 Colonial in nearby Fort Worth and linked with golf legend Ben Hogan the same way Nelson is at this event.

"It's a great feeling to win anything associated with 'Lord' Byron," said Sabbatini. "To always be linked to two of the greatest names in golf, that's pretty amazing. That's something I can always cherish.

"We are going to be partying tonight."

Sabbatini birdied the fourth and fifth holes and answered a bogey at six with a birdie at the seventh. Birdies at 11 and 13 put him in the hunt and three in a row starting at the 15th secured him a victory.

The 64 matched the season-low final round score by a PGA winner this year.

Davis also fired a 64 but settled for second on 263, one stroke ahead of American D.A. Points - who enjoyed his best PGA finish - and two strokes ahead of Americans Dustin Johnson and Scott McCarron, who fired a stunning 62.

Davis birdied the seventh hole, sank three birdies in a row starting at the ninth and eagled the par-5 16th but fell short due to Sabbatini's late run.

"I can't do any more than that," Davis said. "I had a shaky start. I was able to give it a good push but Rory was doing really well."

Davis will skip Monday's nearby British Open qualifier to play in a pro-am event at Colonial, living up to the promise he made when Colonial organizers gave him an early guaranteed entry but hoping he can make the Open another way.

AFP

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