Kim cashes in with Deere win
Michael Kim didn’t just win his first PGA Tour event — he dominated in a fashion never seen at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill.
Kim shot a final-round 66 to win the John Deere Classic by a record-setting eight strokes. Kim, who turned 25 on Saturday, finished at 27-under 257 to break Steve Stricker's tournament record from 2010 by one shot.
In addition to winning $1.044 million, Kim also qualified for this week’s British Open at Carnoustie — an unexpected bonus for a player who had missed five of his last six cuts before his breakthrough in the Quad Cities.
Bronson Burgoon, Francesco Molinari, Joel Dahmen and Sam Ryder finished at 19 under.
In other news:
• Brandon Stone just missed becoming the first player to shoot a round of 59 on the European Tour. Stone’s 10-under 60 secured victory in the Scottish Open at Gullane, earning him a third professional title of his career and the extra prize of a spot in this week’s British Open. After his 8-foot birdie putt at No. 18 curled just left of the cup, he slumped on his haunches, put both hands to his face and then stared at the ball for some time.
• Thidapa Suwannapura won her first LPGA Tour event, closing with a 6-under 65 and then birdieing the first playoff hole to defeat
Brittany Lincicome (67) at the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. Suwannapura picked up three strokes over her final two holes, making eagle on the par-5 17th and closing with a birdie on the par-5 18th to finish at 14-under 270.
• Laura Davies went virtually unchallenged in the final round of the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open, claiming the title by 10 strokes over
Juli Inkster. Davies, 54, shot a 5-under 68 to finish at 16-under 276 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill., in the USGA’s championship for women 50 and older.
• Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo rallied from four points back to win his first American Century Championship at Lake Tahoe, Nev. Romo, who retired after the 2016 NFL season and is an NFL analyst, had 27 points on the day to beat three-time defending champion Mark Mulder and San Jose Sharks captain Joe Pavelski.