Tag Archives: FedEx Cup

Joaquin Niemann Becomes First Player from Chile to Win a PGA Tour Title

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Joaquin Niemann is making history on the PGA Tour…

The 20-year-old Chilean professional golfer hasbecame the first player from Chile to win on the PGA Tour after shooting a 6-under 64 on Sunday for a six-stroke victory in A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier.

Joaquin Niemann

Niemann entered the final round of the season opener with a two-stroke lead and held off challenges from Tom Hoge and Richy Werenski. Niemann birdied the final three holes to finish at 21-under 259 at Old White TPC, which has quickly become one of his favorite venues.

“I just never thought this moment was possible,” Niemann said. “I can’t wait to go back home and celebrate with all of my friends.”

Joaquin Niemann

While eight players already qualified for the Presidents Cup International Team that will play the U.S. team in December at Royal Melbourne in Australia, Captain Ernie Elswill choose the four remaining team members the week of November 4, and Niemann is now officially on his radar.

“Being on the Presidents Cup is just a dream,” Niemann said. “It’s a really good team this year. There’s a lot of good players fighting for those spots. This win definitely helps.”

Niemann grew up in Santiago, Chile, won a pair of junior world titles and was the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world before turning pro in 2018. He played his first full season on tour in 2019, finishing No. 67 in the FedEx Cup standings.

In 2017, Niemann finished tied for 29th as an amateur at The Greenbrier after receiving a sponsor’s exemption. He improved to a tie for fifth in 2018.

Niemann said the resort’s dozens of amenities have steered his mind away from the pressure of golf. Among the activities he participated in before the tournament started was exploring the rugged side of West Virginia with his caddie in an off-road vehicle.

“I was just feeling like I was going to win the tournament from the first day,” he said. “I was in that mindset.”

Niemann is the first third-round leader to win at The Greenbrier since its debut in 2010. He shot 64 in the final round for the third straight year.

He told himself before the round started to go out and have fun.

“I was just trying not to think of anything else,” Niemann said. “My caddie made me laugh to try to forget about it. The last couple of holes I was feeling great.”

It marks the first year since 1931 that there has been more than one tour winner under 21. Matthew Wolff won the 3M Openin June at 20 years, 2 months.

Flores Takes One-Stroke Lead at Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship

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Martin Flores is at the top of the leaderboard…

The 33-year-old Latino golfer shot a 1-under 70 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Web.com Tour Finals‘ Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship.

Martin Flores

Flores, tied for the first-round lead after a 67, had three birdies and two bogeys, all on the back nine, to reach 5-under 137 on Ohio State’s difficult Scarlet Course.

He has played the PGA Tour five of the past six seasons.

“I try to do a good job of keeping a good attitude,” said Flores. “Sometimes it’s a struggle, but this game is tough sometimes. … Everybody has a battle within themselves of some kind when they play. It’s overcoming that battle and going out there and executing golf shots.”

The tournament is the third of four events in the series for the top 75 players from the Web.com Tour money list, Nos. 126-200 in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup standings and nonmembers who earned enough money to have placed in the top 200 had they been eligible to receive points.

The top 25 players on Web.com regular-season money list earned PGA Tour cards. They are competing against one another for PGA Tour priority, with regular-season earnings counting in their totals. The other players are fighting for another 25 cards based on series earnings.

Flores was 156th in the FedEx Cup and has made $2,900 in the series.

“Every year, if you don’t go out and prove yourself, you’re going to get beat up a little bit,” Flores said. “Sometimes you take a step back to take a couple of leaps forward.”

Sam Saunders, Arnold Palmer‘s grandson, was tied for second with Roberto Castro, Luke List and Australia’s Rhein Gibson. List shot a 67, and Saunders, Castro and Gibson shot 68.

Villegas Wins His First PGA Tour Title in Four Years at the Wyndham Championship

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Camilo Villegas is back in winning form…

The 32-year-old Colombian professional golfer shot a 7-under 63 and finished at 17-under 263 at the Wyndham Championship to win his first PGA Tour title since 2010.

Camilo Villegas

With the win, Villegas earned $954,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points in the final regular-season event.

Villegas had four birdies and an eagle on the front nine, added a birdie on the par-5 15th and watched the rest of the tournament from the air-conditioned scorer’s tent with his caddie.

“I was hoping for a playoff,” Villegas said. “I thought I needed one more (stroke).”

But Villegas didn’t need to work harder… When the rest of the field struggled late, he wound up with his fourth PGA Tour title and first since the 2010 Honda Classic.

He also became the second first-round leader to win the tournament since its 2008 move back to Sedgefield Country Club and first since Arjun Atwal in 2010.

Cabrera Earns His First Non-Major Green Jacket at Greenbrier Classic

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Angel Cabrera’s streak of disappointments in non-major events on the PGA Tour is officially over.

The 44-year-old Argentine won the Greenbrier Classic on Sunday for his first victory in a tournament other than a major.

Angel Cabrera

Cabrera earned the victory by closing with his second straight 6-under 64 for a two-stroke to defeat a heavy-hearted George McNeill.

Cabrera, whose only other PGA Tour victories came in the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters, built a three-shot lead before making things interesting with a pair of late bogeys. He finished at 16-under 264 and now has another green jacket — that as Greenbrier Classic champion.

Cabrera had no top 10-finishes this season entering the tournament but had everything working Sunday, hammering drives and approach shots with precision and coming up with clutch putts, especially on the back nine.

“This was a great opportunity,” Cabrera said through an interpreter. “I wanted it. I needed to win a tournament. I felt under control today out there, and I didn’t want to let it get away from me.”

Webb Simpson had a 63 to finish third at 10 under.

Cabrera won $1.17 million and is projected to improve from 158th to 54th in the FedEx Cup standings. McNeill would move from 60th to 29th.