Cantlay outduels DeChambeau
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Clutch down the stretch and for six dynamic playoff holes, Patrick Cantlay put a fitting end to an epic battle with Bryson DeChambeau by making an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the BMW Championship on Sunday.
DeChambeau missed a 6-foot putt for 59 on Friday and missed four birdie putts to win in regulation and in the playoff Sunday. And then he missed the most important putt of the week from just inside 10 feet to extend the playoff. It cost him a victory that looked like it was his all along.
“Patty Ice” simply wouldn’t allow it.
That’s the nickname Cantlay heard from thousands of fans at Caves Valley who got a royal treat in the PGA Tour’s first appearance in Baltimore in nearly 60 years.
Cantlay made putts from 8 feet for par, 8 feet for bogey and 20 feet for birdie on the final three holes of regulation for a 6-under 66, the last one to force a playoff. He holed par putts of 6 feet and 7 feet on the 18th hole in the playoff.
The last one gave him the victory, his PGA Tourleading third of the season. Not only did it move him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, the victory gave Cantlay the final automatic spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
“My game feels really good,” Cantlay said. “It has for a while now since the Memorial, and I’m finally starting to putt like me again. It’s just really nice.”
Cantlay now starts the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead based on his standing as the race concludes for the $15 million prize.
It was a big disappointment for DeChambeau, who powered his way around Caves Valley and appeared to have it wrapped up when he birdied the par-5 16th for a one-shot lead, and then watched Cantlay put it in the water on the next hole.
DeChambeau was rolling his eyes when Cantlay marked and studied 2-foot par putts on the front nine. Cantlay was walking up the 14th fairway as DeChambeau prepared to hit his approach when DeChambeau asked him to stop walking.
DeChambeau also closed with a 66. Both finished at 27-under 261.
Sungjae Im birdied his last two holes for a 67 to finish third, four shots behind. Rory McIlroy was fourth.