No drama: Thomas takes Firestone win
Justin Thomas never let anyone closer than two shots and closed with a 1-under 69 Sunday to win the Bridgestone Invitational in Akron, Ohio, for his third PGA Tour title this season.
The final World Golf Championship at Firestone lacked drama. Tiger Woods, an eighttime winner at Firestone, shot 73 to finish 15 shots behind. Rory McIlroy, playing in the final group with Thomas, shot 73 and tied for sixth. Jason Day and Kyle Stanley tried to make a move, only to stumble with bogeys.
Thomas captured his first World Golf Championship and heads to his title defense at the PGA Championship with plenty of momentum.
Women’s British Open: Named in honor of a famous Masters victory, Georgia Hall has her hands on one of the big trophies in women’s golf at the age of 22. The Englishwoman reeled in longtime leader Pornanong Phatlum in a final-round duel at Royal Lytham to win the Women’s British Open for her first major title in Lytham St. Annes, England.
Hull tapped in for a bogey — her first of the day — at the last hole to clinch a two-shot victory over Pornanong. Hall then hugged her playing partner from Thailand before being lifted off her feet by her caddie, father Wayne.
It was fitting that Wayne, a former two-handicapper, was on the bag to experience the biggest moment of his daughter’s career. Georgia was born during the 1996 Masters won by Englishman Nick Faldo and named in honor of that win. Twentytwo years later, Hall is the pride of English golf just like Faldo was. Her round of 5-under 67, which included six birdies, saw her finish at 17-under 271.
“I was loving it deep down, hitting the shots under pressure,” said Hall, who barely showed any emotions all round.
Hall became the first English major winner since Karen Stupples here in 2004, and the fourth overall.
Ryu So-yeon of South Korea was third on 13 under after a final-round 70.
Champions: Kenny Perry won the 3M Championship one last time, closing with a 3-under 69 for a three-stroke victory at 21-under 195 in the PGA Tour Champions event that is being replaced by the PGA Tour’s 3M Open. Also the 2014 and 2015 winner at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minn., Perry matched Hale Irwin’s tournament record of three victories in the final edition of the event. Wes Short Jr. was second after a 63.
PGA: Andrew Putnam took the lead Saturday in the Barracuda Championship, three points ahead of playing partner Sam Saunders in the PGA Tour’s only modified Stableford scoring event. Putnam had eight birdies and a bogey at windy Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno. Nev.
Fiji International: India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar won by one stroke in Sigatoka, Fiji.