Viktor Hovland defends Mexico crown as Séamus Power finishes in tie for 11th

Waterford golfer drops one place in the leaderboard despite final round 68

Viktor Hovland of Norway and caddie Shay Knight stand with their bag on the 16th hole. Photograph:  Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
Viktor Hovland of Norway and caddie Shay Knight stand with their bag on the 16th hole. Photograph: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Viktor Hovland successfully defended his World Wide Technology Championship title in Mexico after finishing four shots clear of home favourite Carlos Ortiz.

The Norwegian, part of Europe’s Ryder Cup team at Whistling Straits in September, fired a final-round 67 to sign for a 23-under-par total of 261.

Hovland had taken a two-shot lead into the last day after a brilliant bogey-free third round of 62 put him in pole position to retain his crown.

A flawless round of 66 lifted Ortiz two places into second place with a total of 265, one shot ahead of Justin Thomas, for whom a bogey on the 12th effectively cost him the runner-up slot as he carded a 69.

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It was a day to forget for Talor Gooch, who was second overnight, but whose final round 74, including a double-bogey on the 18th, left him stranded on 270 and a tie for 11th place with, among others, Ireland’s Séamus Power.

Power started the day off tied for tenth position, but still dropped one spot further despite a three under round of 68.

Birdies at three and five sandwiched a dropped shot at four, meaning that Power took the turn at one under for the day. Three more birdies on the back nine paired with a second bogey at 14 did allow Power to pick up two more strokes before the finish.

Sergio Garcia’s 69 saw him tied for seventh place at 15 under, one stroke better off than Power.

Riviera Maya Collated Collated final round scores & totals in the USPGA Tour World Wide Technology Championship. (USA unless stated, Par 71):

261 Viktor Hovland (Nor) 67 65 62 67

265 Carlos Ortiz (Mex) 67 65 67 66

266 Justin Thomas 68 65 64 69

267 Scottie Scheffler 67 64 70 66

268 Joaquin Niemann (Chi) 69 66 67 66, Matthew Wolff 61 68 74 65

269 Abraham Ancer (Mex) 68 68 68 65, Sergio Garcia (Spa) 64 69 67 69, Andrew Landry 66 68 67 68, Danny Lee (Nzl) 68 69 68 64

270 Talor Gooch 64 69 63 74, Maverick McNealy 68 69 69 64, Séamus Power (Irl) 68 67 67 68, Brendon Todd 67 69 66 68

271 Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa) 69 68 67 67, John Huh 66 69 67 69, Denny McCarthy 67 68 67 69, Troy Merritt 68 70 66 67, Aaron Rai (Eng) 67 71 66 67, Michael Thompson 68 65 69 69, Aaron Wise 63 70 68 70

272 Thomas Detry (Bel) 67 68 71 66, Matt Kuchar 68 66 69 69, Martin Laird (Sco) 68 66 71 67, Adam Long 66 70 68 68, Andrew Novak 66 72 71 63

273 Doug Ghim 69 65 69 70, James Hahn 67 67 68 71, Ryan Palmer 69 64 72 68, J. J. Spaun 65 68 67 73, Brian Stuard 69 69 66 69, Danny Willett (Eng) 68 68 68 69

274 Billy Horschel 64 69 70 71, Charles Howell III 69 66 69 70, Chez Reavie 66 72 70 66, Greyson Sigg 69 69 72 64, Sepp Straka (Aut) 66 71 69 68, Hudson Swafford 68 70 68 68, Nick Taylor (Can) 67 69 67 71

275 Rickie Fowler 66 72 69 68, Tyrrell Hatton (Eng) 70 66 67 72, Anirban Lahiri (Ind) 67 66 70 72, Scott Piercy 69 68 70 68, Justin Rose (Eng) 67 70 68 70

276 Joel Dahmen 65 71 69 71, Roberto Diaz (Mex) 71 65 68 72, Tyler Duncan 67 70 67 72, Tony Finau 67 69 70 70, Bill Haas 65 68 73 70, Alexander Noren (Swe) 69 67 68 72, Henrik Norlander (Swe) 70 66 69 71, Chengtsung Pan (Tai) 69 68 67 72, Doc Redman 70 66 72 68, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) 69 69 69 69, Adam Svensson (Can) 72 65 74 65

277 Adam Hadwin (Can) 69 68 69 71, Russell Henley 65 69 76 67, Tom Hoge 72 66 69 70, Patton Kizzire 68 69 70 70, Keith Mitchell 68 69 69 71, Patrick Reed 73 65 70 69, Brandt Snedeker 66 71 73 67, Kevin Tway 68 69 71 69

278 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng) 68 69 68 73, Garrick Higgo (Rsa) 71 63 69 75, Chris Kirk 64 73 70 71, Andrew Putnam 68 68 72 70, Vincent Whaley 70 68 70 70

279 Brendan Steele 70 67 68 74

280 Keegan Bradley 71 67 68 74