'Tokyo Olympics Gold' Shopliffe "I'm also a 2-time Champion"..."Drama at the 18th Hole?" (Summary)

PGA Tour Travelers Championship Final Day 72nd Hole Winning Birdie, Tigalala's Double Bogey 'Tears'

Xander Schauffele is cheering while holding the trophy right after winning the Travelers Championship. Cromwell, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] "A birdie and a double bogey on the final 18th hole."

It was a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Xander Schauffele, the Tokyo Olympics gold medalist. On the 27th (Korean time), at the Travelers Championship (total prize money $8.3 million) held at River Highlands TPC in Cromwell, Connecticut, USA (par 70, 6,852 yards), he added 2-under par on the final day to secure a two-stroke victory (19-under 261). This was his second win of the season following the Zurich Classic in April, his sixth career win, and the winner's prize money was $1,494,000 (19.36 billion KRW).

Schauffele drew even more spotlight by sinking a 1-meter winning birdie on the 18th hole (par 4). Sahith Theegala, who was leading by one stroke, hit his tee shot into a fairway bunker and took two shots to escape, resulting in a '4-on 2-putt' double bogey that cost him the victory he almost had. He finished tied for second place (17-under 263) along with J.T. Poston. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler (all from the USA) remained at tied 13th place (10-under 270).

It is interesting that Schauffele played in the champion group alongside 'playoff (PO) champ' Patrick Cantlay (USA), with whom he also won the Zurich Classic. The Zurich Classic is a 'two-man team battle' where the 1st and 3rd rounds are played as four-ball (each player plays their own ball and the better score counts), and the 2nd and 4th rounds are played as foursomes (two players alternate shots with one ball). The two players showed fantastic chemistry and achieved a 'wire-to-wire' victory together.

Sahis Tigala is escaping from the fairway bunker on the 18th hole on the final day of the Travelers Championship. Cromwell, USA = Getty Images / Multibitz

For Schauffele, this was a thrilling win after a long drought of 3 years and 3 months since the Sentry Tournament in January 2019. During this period, he suffered frustration by finishing runner-up eight times and third place four times, repeatedly falling just short of victory. Ultimately, with Cantlay's help, he secured his fifth career win. On the day he took the one-stroke lead, luck was also on his side. On the 18th hole, Theegala, who was trailing by one stroke, collapsed after aggressively attacking the green from a fairway bunker.

Schauffele said, "Watching Theegala's play was shocking," and added, "I focused on sticking my wedge shot to make a birdie." Theegala commented, "The bunker lip was high, but there was definitely room," and said, "My approach to the green was not a wrong decision." Cantlay finished tied for 13th, and 'Number 2' Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland)'s bid for a third win in a row stopped at tied 19th (9-under 271). Defending champion Harris English (USA) and Lee Kyoung-hoon (31, CJ Logistics) also joined the tied 19th place.