J.J. Spaun rallies to win Texas Open for first title since US Open

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — J.J. Spaun came up with two big shots at the end of a long, wet Sunday, one leading to birdie and the other for eagle that carried him to a 5-under 67 and a one-shot victory in the Valero Texas Open for his first title since the U.S. Open last summer.

Spaun won for the second time at the TPC San Antonio, with one big difference. His victory four years ago got him into the Masters. Now he is the U.S. Open champion who already had his spot at Augusta National secured. But this was an important win.

He had yet to finish in the top 20 in seven starts this year — his best was a tie for 24th in The Players Championship — and now the 35-year-old Californian has a validating win in tough conditions as he heads into the first major of the year.

“It’s just — this game is so crazy,” Spaun said. “I haven’t been feeling at the form I wanted to be based on last season, and just trying to take each day as it comes, and accepting what I have."

“There’s just so much that comes with winning big events like that, a U.S. Open or any other major," he said. "I put a lot of pressure on me to start the year, a lot of expectations. I went into the last few weeks starting at the Players trying to be freed up, and put less pressure on myself, and it’s been trying. But sticking to that mantra has really helped me.”

Robert MacIntyre, who had led for so much of the tournament, completed 12 holes Sunday morning in the storm-delayed tournament for an even-par 72 to stay ahead by one shot going into the final round. The groups didn't change for the final round in a bid to finish amid more rain — but no lightning that caused any delays.

Spaun was in the mix with a dozen other players when he hit his tee shot to 3 feet on the par-3 16th for birdie, and then drove the green on the 306-yard 17th hole to 10 feet for eagle.

He finished with a par to set the target at 17-under 271, finishing about an hour before MacIntyre and the final group. He was on the range when MacIntyre, three shots behind with two to play, drove the 17th and holed an eagle putt just outside 15 feet to get within one shot.

But the Scot hooked his second shot from a wet fairway on the 609-yard closing hole — a par 5 that yielded only 10 birdies in the final round — and even after getting relief from temporary immovable obstructions, MacIntyre could only hit wedge to 30 feet.

His birdie putt to force a playoff was short all the way. MacIntyre closed with a 70 to share second place with Matt Wallace (68) and Michael Kim (69).

He won for the third time on the PGA Tour, two of them at the Texas Open.

Ludvig Aberg had his third straight top 10 — including The Players Championship where he gave up the lead on the back nine — going into the Masters. He closed with a 70 and tied for fifth with Andrew Putnam, who needed birdie on the 18th to force a playoff and hit wedge into a back bunker, making bogey for a 70.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

J.J. Spaun waves to fans after winning the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

J.J. Spaun walks off of the 18th hole after the fourth round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

J.J. Spaun holds the championship trophy after winning the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

J.J. Spaun waves to fans after winning the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

J.J. Spaun pitches onto the 18th green during the fourth round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament, in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

J.J. Spaun waves to fans on the 18th hole after the fourth round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

J.J. Spaun signs autographs after the fourth round of the Valero Texas Open golf tournament in San Antonio, Sunday, April 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Darren Abate)

NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Graham Pauley had a go-ahead, two-run double in a four-run eighth inning, and the Miami Marlins held off the Yankees 7-6 on Sunday to stop New York's four-game winning streak.

In a game that started after a 3-hour, 35-minute rain delay, Max Fried handed a 4-3 lead to the Yankees' bullpen with the help of two overturned calls on sixth-inning video reviews.

Fernando Cruz and Jake Bird (1-1) walked consecutive batters with one out in the eighth and Bird loaded the bases when he plunked pinch-hitter Griffin Conine with a pitch. Pauley pulled a sweeper for a 5-4 lead and Xavier Edwards followed with a two-run single off Ryan Yarbrough through a drawn-in infield.

John King (1-0) escaped a two-on jam in the seventh and Anthony Bender allowed Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s two-run double with two outs in the ninth before striking out pinch-hitter J.C. Escarra with two on for his second save.

New York dropped to 7-2 while the Marlins (6-3) salvaged the finale of a three-game series.

Yankees closer David Bednar (33 pitches on Saturday) and setup men Tim Hill and Brent Headrick (pitched Friday and Saturday) weren't used.

Miami was successful on 10 of 11 ABS challenges in the series before losing two in the ninth inning.

New York was 2 for 12 with runners in scoring position, dropping to 6 for 38 in the series. The Yankees walked 30 times, two more than the previous franchise record for a three-game series set in 1934.

Fried, who entered with 13 1/3 scoreless innings, allowed three runs, five hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings.

Ben Rice homered for the third time in four games, a three-run drive in the first off closer Pete Fairbanks, who made his first start since 2020 so he could head home for the birth of a child Monday.

New York right-hander Luis Gil allowed three runs, four hits and four walks over 4 2/3 innings for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He is expected to rejoin the Yankees for his next start. Spencer Jones hit a grand slam for the RailRiders.

Marlins: RHP Janson Junk (0-0) is on the mound for a homestand opener Monday against Cincinnati LHP Brandon Williamson (0-1).

Yankees: RHP Cam Schlittler (2-0) starts Tuesday night's series opener against the Athletics and RHP Aaron Civale (1-0).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

New York Yankees catcher Austin Wells, top, tags out Miami Marlins' Otto Lopez as he tries to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Aaron Judge hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Yankees' Ben Rice celebrates his three-run home run in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Miami Marlins' Liam Hicks, left, greets Graham Pauley, center, as he scores on a single hit by Xavier Edwards during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Miami Marlins' Otto Lopez reacts as he scores on a double hit by Graham Pauley during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)