Wolff wows with win
MATTHEW Wolff made a 26foot putt from the fringe for an eagle on the final hole to win the 3M Open at 21-under par yesterday, beating Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke in a tense finish to the first-time PGA Tour event.
The 20-year-old Wolff struck his second shot on the 573-yard, par-five hole from the fairway to the far left of the green where it landed just a few feet away from a bunker.
He sank the dramatic putt in front of a packed 18th gallery at the TPC Twin Cities, before waiting to watch Morikawa just miss his eagle attempt from 22 feet.
When the ball rolled on the left edge and about three feet too long, Morikawa winced as Wolff hugged his caddie in celebration of the $1.152 million prize and his tour card just six weeks after winning the NCAA individual title with Oklahoma State.
“I’m really not an emotional guy, but tears came to my eyes,” Wolff said.
DeChambeau, playing directly in front of the Morikawa-Wolff pair, had just finished his up-and-down afternoon with an eagle to take the short-lived lead at 20under.
The lively crowd, which went five rows deep behind the ropes near the final green, roared when DeChambeau crushed his second shot 204 yards from the intermediate rough onto the green within six feet of the pin.
The world’s eighth-ranked player sank that putt for one of the seven eagles on 18 during the final round in yet more humid, wind-free conditions.
DeChambeau, who had two of his three bogeys in the tournament in the final round, figured he was headed for a playoff as he walked off.
“I had no idea he would make that putt,” DeChambeau said, adding: “It’s so competitive now. Anyone can win on any week. It’s absolutely impressive.”
MEANWHILE, Spain’s Jon Rahm clinched his second Irish Open title with an impressive final round of 62 to seal a two-shot victory yesterday.
Rahm started the fourth day at the Lahinch Golf Club five shots behind overnight leader Robert Rock but eight birdies and an eagle on the 12th hole catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard.
His fourth-round score of 62, which took him to 16-under for the tournament, also tied his lowest European Tour round and was a huge turnaround in form after he carded 67, 71 and 64 in the opening three rounds.
Australia’s Wade Ormsby carded a third successive oneunder 69 to finish in a group of four tied for 19th place on eight under.