PGA TOUR & DP WORLD TOUR
Genesis Scottish Open
Schauffele Wins Scottish Open
Xander Schauffele is the hottest golfer on the planet right now! The 28-year-old American overcame an elite field to win the Genesis Scottish Open at the Renaissance Club in North Berwick by one shot over compatriot Kurt Kitiyama. It was his second consecutive win at a PGA Tour start. The Olympic champion claimed the Travelers Championship on June 26. To add to his recent feats, Schauffele gained the prestigious 36-hole JP McManus Pro Am in Ireland on Tuesday before heading to Scotland.
This week the Genesis Scottish Open marked its debut as a co-sanctioned event between the DP World Tour and PGA Tour with 14 of the top 15 in the world on show.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, reigning Open champion Collin Morikawa and rising star Will Zalatoris were some of the big names to fail to reach the weekend. The trio each completed the opening 36 holes in 5-over. The cut was at 3-over. Defending champion Min Woo Lee missed the cut by eight shots. The Australian carded rounds of 77 and 74 (+11).
Schauffele took advantage of his recent explosive form. After opening the event with a hard fought 2-over 72, the Californian native moved into contention on Friday with a stunning 5-under 65. It was the low round of the day. Schauffele bolted into the 54-hole lead with a 4-under 66 on Saturday to head Spain’s Rafa Cabrero Bello by two shots. Jordan Spieth was one of three players trailing Schauffele by three shots going into Sunday.
Schauffele made the perfect start to his final round with birdies at the opening two holes. However, closing out the win wasn’t easy! He dropped three shots at the last four holes on the front nine to fall behind fellow American Kitiyama. Schauffele regained his composure on the back nine securing birdies at the 14th and 16th holes to hold a two shot lead into the 72nd hole. He made a bogey at the last hole for an even par final round 70 that left him at 7-under for the event. It was his seventh PGA Tour title.
Kitiyama was the surprise packet on Sunday. The two-time DP World Tour winner started the day five back from Schauffele and was five under for the round after 14 holes. He dropped a shot at the par 3, 17th hole to sign for a final round 4-under 66 that left him at 6-under for the event and in solo second place. With his superb finish, Kitayama’s claimed one of the three available spots at next week’s Open Championship at St. Andrews. Brandon Wu (T6) and Jamie Donaldson (T6) earned the other two.
Cameron Smith was the best placed Australian with his 2-under tally leaving him in a tie for 10th place.
The PGA Tour remains in Scotland for the 150th Open Championship staged at St Andrews. America’s Collin Morikawa is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Genesis Scottish Open
1. Xander Schauffele -7
2. Kurt Kitiyama -6
3. Joohyung Kim -5
T4. Patrick Cantlay -4
T4. Tommy Fleetwood -4
T6. Branden Wu -3
T6. Jamie Donaldson -3
T6. Cameron Tringale -3
T6. Matt Fitzpatrick -3
Australians
T10. Cameron Smith -2
T16. Jason Scrivener -1
MC. Lucas Herbert
MC. Marc Leishman
MC. Scott Hend
MC. Min Woo Lee
MC. Maverick Antcliff
Photo credit: Andrew Redington/Getty Images
