After two successive signature events, the PGA Tour returned to their non-elevated events. This week, the tour hosted the Valspar Championship which saw Peter Malnati , one of the six player-director of the tour’s policy board claim his first victory since 2015.
The 36-year-old’s previous win on the tour came nine years ago at the Sanderson’s Farm Championship. Peter Malnati would shoot a score of 4-under 67 on the final round to finish the event 12-under, two strokes ahead of runner-up, Cameron Young.
After the victory, Malnati would get emotional. This was his first win while becoming a father after all. Speaking about this, the golfer with teary eyes claimed winning has got a little harder since his previous triumph in 2015.
You wonder if you’re ever going to do it again because it’s hard and in the nine years since my last win it’s gotten a lot harder too.
Peter Malnati on his win via Golf Channel.
A passionate Peter Malnati reacts to his second career PGA TOUR win. pic.twitter.com/kt2UBRDfGH
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) March 24, 2024
This triumph not only saw Malnati claim his second title, he also took home $1,512,000 for his efforts. On top, he will likely earn an invitation to the 2024 Masters tournament. “That’s my major. I will probably accept it,” Malnati said when asked about this invitation. This would see him make his first appearance at this major event in his 10-year career.
⛳ More Peter Malnati. On his first Masters. IF he's invited. He'll probably accept. And when is it again? Tremendous. pic.twitter.com/RjaLEb7rh2
— Len Hochberg ⛳ (@LenHochberg) March 24, 2024
The victory of Peter Malnati at the Valspar Championship was not only emotional to him but also for his caddie, Chad Antus. The looper in his 20-year career had never tasted victory before. Despite never winning before, Antus did not give up his dream of helping golfer’s claiming wins and emerging victorious.
As per reports, Malnati and Antus meet each other during the Rocket Mortgage Classic in 2017. Since then the pair have worked together and despite facing hardships, they have stood together. Speaking about him after the win, Malnati would hail Antus as the “best caddie” and thanked him for his work.
I’ve got the best caddie. He’s been loyal to me for a long time, through a lot of downtimes too. Peter Malnati on his caddie Chad Antus via Golf Channel.
#FIRST WIN — Peter Malnati’s caddie Chad Antus collected his first win tonight after 20 years as a caddie, per @KiraDixon pic.twitter.com/Y5zueHBbtz
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) March 25, 2024
After the win, Antus was seemingly beaming with joy. According to reports from Golf Channel’s Kira K. Dixon, he would walk past her. However, in this instance he was heard saying ,”We did it” while speaking on the phone.
Peter Malnati’s caddie is Chad Antus. He’s been caddying on tour for over 20 years and got his first win tonight. I walked past him while he was on the phone after the win and overheard him saying “We did it!” pic.twitter.com/FaMgfzOjRg
— Kira K. Dixon (@KiraDixon) March 25, 2024
As they duo now celebrate this win, they will no doubt be looking forward to the future. With the Masters coming up in the second week of April, Malnati and Antus would be hoping to get some positive results in the upcoming Houston Open event to get some much needed momentum on their side.
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