Page 25 - Golf Champion - February 2021

Rahm, Justin Thomas and Bryson DeChambeau
as the only players to have a similar active streak
going. He has surged to 10th in the FedExCup
standings and jumped to 23rd in the world
rankings. This was Na's fourth win in 55 starts
after he managed just one win in his first 369
starts.
“It feels great. It's great to get off to a good start
this year and get back in Maui (next year). It's
just all positives. But I'd like to win another one
before the season's over,” Na said. “I used to
be a really consistent player, a lot of top 10s, a
lot of made cuts. Winning was still important
then but winning felt a little bit distant to me.
I knew I could do it; I've done it before … but I
went so many years without winning that I kind
of forgot that feeling, and when I validated it at
Greenbrier, it made me hungry for more.
“(So) I think experience is the reason why I've
been winning. Experience and confidence.
When you do it again, it seems like the next one
comes easier. All this time waiting is paying off
right now.”
It really wasn’t that easy. After a bogey on the
12th hole, Na was three shots back of Brendan
Steele’s lead. It appeared as if he’d let his chance
slip. But perhaps mindful that Steele had let a
similar lead go at Waialae Country Club a year
ago, he failed to give in.
There was an immediate response as he rattled
off three birdies in a row to surge back into the
mix and came to the par-5 18th hole knowing a
birdie would secure either a win or perhaps a
spot in a playoff at worst.
He smashed a 5-wood out of the rough that
skirted past the pin and ran through the green,
but made no mistake with his pitch back,
ensuring his well-earned victory after last-ditch
eagle attempts from Steele and Joaquin Niemann
failed to fall.
“I was playing maybe a little bit more aggressive
coming down the stretch, not worrying so much
about second or third. Every year, I hope to win,
and I expect to win, on the right golf courses,”
Na added. “Sometimes that adds a little bit more
pressure but it's just a mind-set that when you go
in, hey, look, if things go well and I play well, I'm
going to have a chance.
“The goals now are to be top-20 in the world

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