Homa claims PGA Tour's season-opening Fortinet Championship

Max Homa claimed the first title of the season, taking out the Fortinet Championship by one stroke on Sunday.

Homa carded a seven-under-par 65 to reign supreme in the opening PGA Tour event of the 2021-22 season.

The 30-year-old American clinched his third career title and second in his home state of California, where he finished 19 under.

Homa was three strokes adrift of Maverick McNealy with seven holes remaining at Silverado Country Club before going five under to seal the trophy in a comeback effort.

An eagle on the par-four 12th hole ignited Homa, who rallied with another three birdies to beat overnight leader McNealy (68) to glory.

McNealy recorded his second career runner-up performance on the PGA Tour, after the 2021 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Mito Pereira ended the event outright third at 16 under following his four-under-par 68 – the best finish of the 26 PGA Tour rookies in the Fortinet Championship.

Marc Leishman (65) and Talor Gooch (68) finished four strokes off the pace, while Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama (66), Patrick Rodgers (67), John Augenstein (68), C.T. Pan (69) and Scott Stallings (71) were two shots further back.

Six-time major champion Phil Mickelson had to settle for a share of 36th position after stumbling 27 places down the leaderboard following a final-round 75.

Mickelson had four bogeys to go with just one birdie to sign for an overall score of seven under.