Eagle gives Wolff victory in 3rd start

BLAINE, Minn. — Matthew Wolff made a 26-foot putt from the fringe for an eagle on the final hole to win the 3M Open at 21 under par Sunday, 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-5 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 3 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 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-anddown afternoon with an eagle to take the short-lived lead at 20 under. The world’s eighth-ranked player 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.”

Playing in just his third tournament as a pro, Wolff fended off a steely finish by Morikawa, who also turned pro this summer after leaving Cal. Morikawa, 22, whose putt for birdie on the 17th barely horseshoed out, flashed Wolff a smile as the two embraced on the green.

“The way we were playing today, it was going to go in. One of us was going to drop one in,” Morikawa said: “I hit a really good putt. I thought it was good and once it got about halfway I knew it was a little low. What can you do?”