PGA TOUR
WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational
Ancer Wins Maiden PGA Tour Title In A Playoff
Abraham Ancer is the latest first-time winner on the PGA Tour after winning a playoff at the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational.
The 30-year-old Mexican poured in a birdie at the second extra hole to defeat Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and America’s Sam Burns. All three players finished regulation play at 16-under.
Ancer reached the playoff after producing a steady 2-under final round that included three birdies and one bogey. The 2018 Australian Open champion started the final round four shots behind 54-hole leader Harris English. Earlier in the tournament, Ancer posted rounds of 67, 62 and 67. His stunning second round 62 was his tour-leading 14th bogey-free round of the season. Ancer, who entered the week as the world No. 23, has enjoyed a strong PGA Tour season with seven top 10 results. With this victory, he will climb to sixth on the FedExCup standings.
Matsuyama got to 16-under to earn his spot in the playoff after firing a remarkable bogey-free 7-under 63 on Sunday. The 29-year-old started the final round seemingly out of contention facing a nine shot deficit to leader English. If the current Masters champion prevailed in extra holes, he would have matched the PGA Tour (regular events) record for the largest final-round comeback (nine shots Stewart Cink, 2004 MCI Heritage). Paul Lawrie won a major title from 10 shots back at the 1999 Open Championship. Matsuyama entered the event after coming off a bronze-medal playoff loss at the Tokyo Olympics.
Burns, aged 25, was searching for his second PGA Tour win and second win this season. The world No. 32 owns seven top 10s this season. Burns began the final round eight shots behind English. He reeled off five unanswered birdies over his opening ten holes before stumbling with a double bogey at the 13th hole. Burns recovered swiftly to finish with three birdies during his final four holes. The winner of the Valspar Championship in May made it to the playoff after carding a 6-under 64 final round that included a clutch birdie at the 72nd hole.
English started the final round with a two shot advantage over compatriot Bryson DeChambeau and Australia’s Cameron Smith. The 32-year-old, who was trying to become the third player to go wire-wire in this event (Tiger Woods (2000) & Stewart Cink (2004), took the lead on Day One led with an impressive 8-under 62 in the first round. The superb scorecard included seven birdies at his first nine holes to cover the front nine in just 28 shots. English was hoping to become the first player this season to three wins after collecting victories at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and the Travelers Championship. The 32-year-old finished one shot out of the playoff after capitulating on the back nine with two double bogeys and one bogey to return home in 5-over. English signed for a 3-over 73 to get to 15-under and claim solo fourth place.
Cameron Smith, America’s Daniel Berger and England’s Paul Casey finished one shot further back at 14-under and in a share of fifth place. Smith, who contended strongly for his fourth PGA Tour win, held a share of the lead after 71 holes. The 27-year-old Aussie fell out of the race for the title after a wild drive at the 72nd hole led to a double bogey. Smith posted a final round 2-over 72. Berger and Casey made up ground on Sunday after producing rounds of 66 and 67 respectively.
Defending champion Justin Thomas lost ground on Sunday with a 2-over 72 to drop back to 5-under for the event and in a tie for 26th place.
Reigning Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele was never in the hunt after an uncharacteristic 3-over par on the second round. He finished at even par and in a tie for 46th place.
The PGA Tour moves to Sedgefield Country Club in North Carolina for the Wyndham Championship. Jim Herman is the defending champion.
Final Scores
WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational
1. Abraham Ancer -16
T2. Hideki Matsuyama -16
T2. Sam Burns -16
4. Harris English -15
T5. Daniel Berger -14
T5. Paul Casey -14
T5. Cameron Smith -14
T8. Will Zalatoris -12
T8. Bryson DeChambeau -12
Other Australians
T36. Adam Scott -2
T36, Lucas Herbert -2
T36. Marc Leishman -2
T43. Brad Kennedy -1
T51. Matt Jones +1
T51. Wade Ormsby +1
60. Cam Davis +5
62 Min Woo Lee +8
Photo credit: Sam Greenwood /Getty Images
