A dramatic finish
Erik van Rooyen made a stunning eagle on the final hole to win the World Wide Technology Championship by two shots on Sunday. The South African shot a 9-under 63 in the final round, including an 8-under 28 on the back nine, to finish at 27-under 261 for his second PGA Tour victory.
Van Rooyen, who won the Barracuda Championship in 2021, holed a 16-foot putt on the par-5 18th after hitting a 3-wood from 270 yards to the green. He pumped his fist and hugged his caddie as he celebrated his triumph at the Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante in Los Cabos, Mexico.
“I’m quite numb after that putt went in on 18,” van Rooyen said. “You imagine yourself full of euphoria and just being ecstatic and I was just numb. I think it’s because of everything the past six days with my friend Jon (Trasamar) being so sick. I guess just the moment just hasn’t hit me yet.”
Kuchar and Villegas fall short
Van Rooyen’s eagle denied Matt Kuchar and Camilo Villegas, who both finished at 25-under 263 after shooting 66s in the final round. Kuchar, who had a six-shot lead with four holes to play on Saturday, had a chance to tie van Rooyen on 18, but his approach shot missed the green and he settled for a par.
Kuchar, who was looking for his 10th PGA Tour win and his first since 2019, had a disastrous finish on Saturday, making a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 15th hole and a bogey on the 16th to drop into a tie with Villegas. He bounced back with four birdies on the front nine on Sunday, but could not catch van Rooyen, who birdied six of the first eight holes on the back nine.
“I’m pretty bummed,” Kuchar said. “You come out with a great chance to win a golf tournament – and the goal is to win a golf tournament. But I hold my head held high. Erik played incredible golf.”
Villegas, who was seeking his fifth PGA Tour title and his first since 2014, also had a birdie opportunity on 18, but his 12-foot putt slid past the hole. The Colombian, who lost his daughter Mia to cancer last year, had a bogey-free round with six birdies, but could not match van Rooyen’s fireworks.
“I’m proud of myself,” Villegas said. “I’m proud of the way I handled myself. I’m proud of the way I played. Obviously, Erik played unbelievable. Hats off to him.”
Suh, Putnam and Palmer round out top five
Justin Suh, who earned a spot in the field as the top finisher in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, finished fourth at 24-under 264 after a 65. The 24-year-old American, who was playing in his 11th PGA Tour event, had eight birdies and a bogey in his final round.
Andrew Putnam and Ryan Palmer tied for fifth at 22-under 266. Putnam shot a 10-under 62, the best round of the day, with 10 birdies and no bogeys. Palmer had a 64 with seven birdies and a bogey.
The World Wide Technology Championship was the second of three events in the PGA Tour’s fall swing in Mexico. The next event is the Mayakoba Golf Classic, which starts on Thursday in Playa del Carmen.
