Britain's Paul Casey gave himself the perfect warm-up for next week's US Masters by winning his first PGA Tour title in a playoff at the weather-delayed Houston Open on Sunday. Casey sealed victory with a bogey five at the first extra hole where big-hitting American J.B. Holmes drove into the water and finished with a double-bogey. The pair had finished the 72 regulation holes on 11-under-par 277, Casey bogeying the last for a 72 and Holmes closing with a six-birdie 69 at Redstone Golf Club. “It feels great,” Casey, a nine-time European Tour winner, told reporters after making his breakthrough on the US circuit. “It feels a little bit like my first win felt in Europe, which I can remember very vividly. First win in Europe, first Ryder Cup experience and now a first PGA Tour win. Three fairly major events in my life, in my golfing life.” Tour veteran Fred Couples, bidding for his first victory on the US circuit since the 2003 Houston Open, was a further two strokes behind in a tie for third. Couples slipped out of the lead on the back nine and bogeyed the last three holes to finish level with Swede Henrik Stenson (70) and Australian Nick O'Hern (70). Lincicome wins crown In California, Brittany Lincicome eagled the 72nd hole on Sunday to seize a one-stroke triumph in the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first major of the women's golf season. A stunning shot to within four feet on the par-five 18th at Mission Hills set up the eagle for Lincicome, who erased a one-shot deficit to beat playing partners Kristy McPherson and Cristie Kerr. Lincicome carded a final-round 69 for a nine-under total of 279. She claimed the first major title of her career. Kerr, a former US Women's Open champion, closed with a 71 and McPherson posted a 72 to finish on 280. McPherson, seeking her first LPGA Tour victory, led by one after 17 holes and couldn't convert a 25-footer for birdie at the last. Kerr drained her birdie putt from the fringe to put the pressure on Lincicome. McPherson went into the round with a one-stroke lead, and had a near hole-in-one at the par-three 17th, where her tee shot bounced off the flagstick. She missed a short birdie putt, but neither Lincicome nor Kerr could make their birdie attempts. Defending champion Lorena Ochoa of Mexico finished eight adrift on 287, chipping in for eagle at the last to complete a 69.
