Wolff eagles to win as Cal’s Morikawa unable to forge tie
Six weeks after winning the NCAA individual title with Oklahoma State, Matthew Wolff wrapped up just his third tournament as a professional.
He took home a trophy and a PGA Tour card.
Even if the 20yearold was playing the 3M Open on a sponsor exemption in a field with far more accomplished players, Wolff ’s time as an amateur provided plenty of experience to sharpen both his competitiveness and confidence. That sure showed on the 18th green in Blaine, Minn.
“I was born for moments like these,” Wolff said. “I live for moments like these.”
Wolff made a 26foot putt from the fringe for an eagle on the final hole to finish at 21underpar Sunday, beating Cal alum Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke in a tense finish to the firsttime PGA Tour event.
“I completed everything I wanted to in college and now I’ve done something that very few people could say they’ve done, and it makes me really happy,” said Wolff, who became the first player since Jordan Spieth in 2013 to win a PGA Tour event before his 21st birthday. Wolff struck his second shot on the 573yard, par5 hole from the fairway to the far left of the green, where it landed just a few feet away from a bunker. He proceeded to sink the dramatic putt in front of a packed 18th gallery at the TPC Twin Cities.
“I’m usually not an emotional guy at all, but tears definitely came to my eyes when I stepped off and picked that ball up out of the hole,” Wolff said.
Morikawa had the opportunity to forge a tie, but he just missed his eagle attempt from 22 feet away in the middle of the green. When the ball rolled on the left edge and about 3 feet too long, Morikawa winced.
“I hit a really good putt. I thought it was good from the start and once it got about halfway I knew it was a little low. What can you do?” said the 22yearold who also turned pro this summer. His putt for birdie on the 17th horseshoed out. LPGA: Shanshan Feng hit a 7iron to 3 feet for a birdie on the final hole to close with a 9under 63 and a oneshot victory over Ariya Jutanugarn in the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic in Oneida, Wis. Feng, who was 29under for the tournament, won for the first time since November 2017. Jutanugarn had a threeshot lead on the back nine until a bogey on the par5 15th and a strong finish from Feng.
Yealimi Noh had a 68 to finish tied for sixth. Noh, the 17yearold from Concord who turned down a chance to play at UCLA to turn pro, wrapped up a big week. She began in a Monday qualifier to get into the tournament, played in the last group on the weekend and already has a spot in the field this week at the Marathon Classic.
“It was my goal to be in the top 10 for the week,” she said. European Tour: Jon Rahm took the Irish Open title for the second time in three years after shooting 8under 62 in the final round to win by two strokes in Lahinch.