Dylan Frittelli wins John Deere Classic for 1st PGA Tour victory
SILVIS, Ill. — While the rest of the leaders faltered, Dylan Frittelli surged to his first PGA Tour title.
Frittelli won the John Deere Classic on Sunday, closing with a 7-under 64 for a two-stroke victory over Russell Henley. The South African earned a spot next week in the British Open, finishing at 21-under 263 after the bogey-free final round at TPC Deere Run.
One of eight players within two strokes of the lead entering the lead, Frittelli was looking forward to the tournament’s charter flight to Royal Portrush.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a fun flight,” Frittelli said.
A two-time winner on the European Tour, Frittelli birdied the par-5 17th after blasting out of a greenside bunker to 11 feet, and closed with a par on the par-4 18th.
Frittelli had tied for 46th in each of his last two starts.
“I don’t want to say it was easy out there. It just felt a whole lot easier than it has been the last few weeks,” Frittelli said. “I calmed my nerves down.”
Henley shot a tournament-best 61. Andrew Landry, who opened Sunday in a two-way tie for the lead, was 18 under after a 69.
Rookie Collin Morikawa (66), the runner-up last week in Minnesota, and Chris Stroud (67) followed at 17 under. Morikawa hit all 18 greens in regulation.
Henley’s career-low effort included Dylan Frittelli holds the trophy after winning the John Deere Classic golf tournament at TPC Deere Run in Silvis, Ill., on Sunday. six birdies on the back nine, capped with his putter 30 feet from the pin by one on No. 18 — the same hole while off the green on the par-4 15th he double-bogeyed Friday. Henley hole, and left his try short on his made six putts of at least 7 feet, including way to his third bogey of the day. 26- and 46-footers. Moments later, Frittelli got out
“If you would have told me at the of a bunker by using the green’s start of the day, ‘We’ll give you 66,’ downward slope to his advantage, I’d have said, ‘That’s pretty good.’ where he made a birdie putt that So to get five better than that is really effectively ended the drama in the awesome,” Henley said. Quad Cities.
But Henley, who finished well “You can’t give up shots to the before Fritteli hit the turn, could rest of the field,” Frittelli said. only watch from the clubhouse as “When I saw the leaderboard, Frittelli surpassed him and everyone putting downhill, I thought, if I else in the field. make this (I’ll get) a little bit of
Frittelli, who opened with rounds breathing room with Russell in of 66, 68 and 65, started the final the clubhouse already.” round with three straight birdies. Frittelli, who made the winning He matched Henley with a chipin putt for the University of Texas in on No. 10 and took the lead for the 2012 NCAA Tournament, became good with a 20-foot birdie putt on the second player from that the 11th hole. Longhorns team to win at TPC
Landry birdied No. 14 to pull Deere Run. Jordan Spieth won within two shots. But Landry went in 2013 and 2015.