Wilson holds his nerve

Mark Wilson overcame a nervy start at the Humana Challenge to secure his fifth PGA Tour title.

Late flourish sees 37-year-old claim fifth PGA Tour title

Mark Wilson overcame a nervy start at the Humana Challenge to secure his fifth PGA Tour title. Wilson must have feared the worst as his three-shot lead from overnight was quickly wiped out in the final round on the Palmer Course at PGA West. A front nine of 37 from the 37-year-old had opened up the door to the chasing pack. However Wilson recovered his composure to play the last eight holes in four-under par for a closing 69 and 24-under-par total of 264. That gave Wilson a two-shot win over fellow Americans Johnson Wagner - who won the Sony Open in Hawaii last week - John Mallinger and Robert Garrigus. Garrigus, who had dropped a shot on the 17th to fall out of a tie for the lead with Wilson, had a chance to finish outright second but missed from nine feet for birdie on the last. Wilson bogeyed the third and did not pick up his first birdie of the day until the par-five 11th.

Amazed

However, he then holed a bunker shot on the par-three 12th for another birdie and sealed the win as darkness closed in with further birdies on the 16th and 18th. "I was amazed at the peace I had with the start I had," Wilson said. "I just hung in there and it's great to win." Wilson has made a habit of winning tournaments early in the season, with both of his victories last year coming before the second week in February. "The only thing I can think of is that during the break in November and December, I can clear my mind of golf," he said. "I tend to remember the good things I did the season before, and when I came out the last two years I really just had a clear mind and was really focusing on what I'm doing, not worrying about my standing in the world rankings or my standing in the money list or FedExCup. "I feel like I'm more into my zone so I've altered my schedule this year with a two and a three-week break in the middle of the season to try to simulate that. We'll see how that works."