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 six-foot putt for 59 on Friday and missed four birdie putts to win in regulation and in the playoff this morning (AEST). And then he missed the most important putt of the week from just inside 10 feet to extend the playoff.
But Cantlay’s triumph wasn’t without an awkward exchange when DeChambeau unexpectedly called out his counterpart on the 14th hole in regulation.
DeChambeau, who at the time was one stroke ahead at 27 under, was on the par-4 14th when he took aim at Cantlay who was on the green, 21 and a half feet from the hole.
“Patrick, can you stop walking?” DeChambeau shouted.
It was a confusing moment for all, including NBC analyst’ Paul Azinger, a former major champion.
“You know, I’m surprised he called Patrick out like that,” Azinger said.
“I mean that could break your own concentration when you call a guy out.”
“Almost never [does something like that happen]. I think it might have broken Bryson’s concentration. Probably put a little chip on Cantlay’s shoulder.”
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 at Caves Valley in the PGA Tour’s first appearance in Baltimore in nearly 60 years. 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 Tour-leading third of the season and fifth overall. Not only did it move him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings, the victory gave Cantlay the sixth and final automatic spot on the US Ryder Cup team.
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Cantlay now starts the Tour Championship with a two-shot lead based on his standing as the race concludes for the $15 million prize.
DeChambeau also closed with a 66. The pair finished at 27-under 261. No one has ever shot 261 on the PGA Tour without taking home the trophy.
Sungjae Im birdied his last two holes for a 67 to finish alone in third, four shots behind. Rory McIlroy closed with a 67 to finish fourth.
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