Genesis Open champion JB Holmes has hit back after being criticised for playing slowly in the final round of the tournament on Sunday.
With bad weather causing big delays throughout the California event, the majority of the field had to play nearly 36 holes on the final day to ensure the tournament came to a conclusion on Sunday evening.
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Justin Thomas appeared to be on course for his 10th PGA Tour title after opening up a four-stroke lead at the 54-hole stage, but he faltered over the back nine and allowed the chasing pack to hunt him down.
Rory McIlroy, Marc Leishman and Si Woo Kim had all threatened to challenge but it was American Holmes, who had last tasted success since at the 2015 Shell Houston Open, who ended up on top.
The 36-year-old parred his last seven holes to sign for a one-under-par 70 to finish on -14, one stroke ahead of fellow Kentuckian Thomas who had to settle for second place.
Despite landing his first title on the PGA circuit, Holmes was criticised for his apparent slow play during his final round, but he has hit back at those people that have taken aim at him.
He said: “You play in 25-mile-an-hour gusty winds and see how fast you play. You can’t just get up there and whack it when it’s blowing that hard.”
South Korean Kim finished in third on -12 whilst McIlroy and Leishman ended up in a share of fourth on -11.
