Jim Herman delivered a masterful performance at just the right time Sunday in the Shell Houston Open in Humble, Texas.
Herman, winless in 105 previous starts on the PGA Tour, chipped in for birdie on the par-3 16th and finished with two pars for a 4-under-par 68 and a one-shot victory that sends him to the Masters for the first time in his career.
Herman tapped in for par and thrust both fists in the air after his one-shot victory over Henrik Stenson.
‘‘Sorry for the tears, but I'm pretty happy,’’ Herman said in his TV interview.
The Houston Open was the final opportunity for players to get into this week’s Masters, and Herman seemed like a long shot at No. 191 in the world whose only professional victory was six years ago in Australia.
Stenson missed an 18-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 68 to finish one shot behind. It was the Swede’s eighth runner-up finish since his last victory in Dubai at the end of 2014.
Dustin Johnson tried to overcome a double bogey on the 11th. He made three birdies coming in, but had to settle for a 69 and was two shots back.
Jordan Spieth made four straight birdies early in his round, but two shots into the water led to double bogeys and a 70. He was seven back in a tie for 13th.
The victory also gets Herman into the PGA Championship for the first time.
LPGA — At Rancho Mirage, Calif., Lydia Ko took advantage of Ariya Jutanugarn’s late collapse to win the ANA Inspiration for her second straight major victory and second LPGA Tour win a row.
The top-ranked Ko hit an 88-yard wedge shot to a foot on the par-5 18th to set up her winning birdie — and an unlikely victory leap into Poppie’s Pond. She closed with a 3-under 69 to finish at 12 under.
Jutanugarn had a two-stroke lead at 13 under with three holes to play. The 20-year-old Thai player bogeyed all three holes, three-putting the 16th, failing to get up and down from a bunker on 17, and hooking her drive into the water on 18.
Charley Hull and In Gee Chun finished a stroke behind Ko, and Jutanugarn ended up fourth at 10 under.
Ko won the final major last season, the Evian Championship in September in France, and took the LPGA Tour event last week in Carlsbad. The 18-year-old New Zealander has 12 LPGA Tour victories.
Champions — Miguel Angel Jimenez shot an 8-under 64 to win the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic by two strokes.
Jimenez started the day in third place, three shots behind leader Scott Dunlap. But the 52-year-old from Spain took control on the tournament’s final day thanks to a bogey-free round that included four straight birdies from No. 10 to No. 13.
It is Jimenez’s third victory on the Champions Tour in just 10 starts dating to 2014. He was 14 under for the tournament at Fallen Oak in Saucier, Miss.
Dunlap couldn’t keep up with Jimenez, but finished in second place after shooting a 69. Tom Pernice Jr., Jeff Maggert, and Jerry Smith were five shots behind Jimenez to finish in a tie for third.
Drive, Chip & Putt — Michael Thorbjornsen, a 14-year-old from Wellesley, captured the all-around title in the boys’ 14-15 division at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Club. Thorbjornsen finished second in the driving portion of the 10-player contest, won the chipping, and was tied for first place going into putting. But he knocked his two attempts on Augusta National’s 18th green close enough to earn a 1-point win over three others.
“Coming here was such a great experience,’’ Thorbjornsen said in an interview that aired live on the Golf Channel. “I can’t believe what’s happening right now. I’m so happy I won. I don’t have words to say how well I’m feeling.’’
