Spieth holes bunker shot to win playoff
Thrilling finish at Travelers Championship puts 23-year-old Texan in elite company for career victories
Jordan Spieth holed out from 60 feet for birdie from a greenside bunker on the first hole of a playoff with Daniel Berger to win the Travelers Championship on Sunday in Cromwell, Conn.
The 23-year-old Spieth joined Tiger Woods as the only players in the modern era with 10 victories before the age of 24. Woods had 15 victories before he turned 24.
Spieth led wire-to-wire at TPC River Highlands, holding a one-stroke edge after each of the first three rounds. He closed with an even-par 70 to match Berger — who birdied three of the final six holes for a 67 — at 12-under 268.
David Hearn (69) of Brantford, Ont., was the low Canadian, tying for eighth at 8 under. Mackenzie Hughes (66) of Dundas, Ont., tied for 17th at 6 under, Graham DeLaet (68) of Weyburn, Sask., was in a group tied for 26th at 5 under, Ottawa’s Brad Fritsch (68) was 3 under to tie for 43rd and Adam Hadwin (71) of Abbotsford was at 1 under to tie for 57th.
In the LPGA, this year, So Yeon Ryu became the LPGA Tour’s first two-time winner this season, taking the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship with a tournament record 18-under 195 total in Rogers, Ark.
Five strokes ahead after a course record 10-under 61 on Saturday, the third-ranked Ryu closed with a 69 for a two-shot victory over fellow South Korean player Amy Yang and Thailand’s Moriya Jutanugarn.
Ryu has five LPGA Tour victories, also winning the major ANA Inspiration in April in a playoff with Lexi Thompson. Ryu won at Pinnacle Country Club four years after losing a playoff to Inbee Park in event.
Yang finished with a 64, and Jutanugarn had a 66.
Defending champion Lydia Ko set the previous tournament best of 17 under last year. The second-ranked New Zealander shot a 68 on Sunday to tie for 25th at 8 under.