Sergio wins the Byron Nelson in a playoff, Rory prevails in Ireland and a roundup of the rest of the week’s hottest stories in golf …
Garcia gets the job done at the Byron Nelson
Sergio Garcia (-15) defeated Brooks Koepka in a sudden-death playoff to collect his ninth career PGA Tour victory, tying him with Seve Ballesteros for the most all time by a Spaniard. Garcia posted a Sunday 68, including four straight rounds below that score for the week. Sergio took advantage of a Koepka miscue on the first playoff hole, sinking a tap-in par putt for his second career victory at the Byron Nelson.
Jordan Spieth’s (-10) final-round struggles continued, as he carded a 4-over 74 on Sunday to fall into a tie for 18th. Other notables from the weekend included Matt Kuchar (3), Dustin Johnson (T12), Bryson DeChambeau (MC), and Louis Oosthuizen (MC).
#WITB
TaylorMade and Adidas walked away with their second consecutive victory this week, this time from Sergio Garcia. Sergio’s playoff victory earned him $1.3 million in winnings and gave him his first PGA Tour victory in nearly four years.
- Driver: TaylorMade M2 9.5º
Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon KuroKage Silver TiNi XTS 80X - 3-Wood: TaylorMade M1 HL 15º
- Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon KuroKage Silver TiNi XTS 80X
- 5-Wood: TaylorMade M1 19º
- Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon KuroKage Silver TiNi XTS 80X
- Irons: TaylorMade PSi Tour (3-PW)
- Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 130X
- Wedges: Tour Preferred EF Tiour Grind (52-09, 58-12)
- Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus Tour 130X
- Putter: TaylorMade Monte Carlo Prototype
- Grip: SuperStroke Midnight Pistol GT 1.0 CounterCore (75g)
- Ball: TaylorMade Tour Preferred X #49
Rory hosts and wins rain-soaked Irish Open
World No. 3 Rory McIlroy (-12) hosted and won the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open on the European PGA Tour, finishing with a spectacular eagle on the 72nd hole. McIlroy fended off Sunday charges from Russell Knox (T2) and Martin Kaymer (T5) to walk away with $747,000 in winnings, all of which the Northern Irishman will donate to his charitable foundation.
Bernhard Langer blows away field at the Regions Tradition
Bernhard Langer (-17) ran away and never looked back this weekend, lapping the field by six strokes en route to his 13th career Champions victory, another major championship to his credit, and $343,000.
R&A Indefinetely Strips Muirfield of The Open Championship
The Royal & Ancient has indefinitely banned Muirfield from hosting The Open Championship. Host of 16 previous Open Championships, the members at Muirfield voted Thursday to uphold their ban on women members, effective since the club’s inception in 1891. The club’s history traces back to 1744, when it’s members produced the original 13 Rules of Golf.
Defending Open champion Rory McIlroy had some choice words for the Muirfield membership following their decision:
“It’s not right to host [The Open] at a club where women are not allowed… We are trying to move with the times, make golf cooler and to include more people. This wasn’t a great day.” – Rory McIlroy
Journey to the PGA Tour: Bryan Bros.
YouTube sensation to PGA Touring professional. Wesley Bryan has taken an unconventional path to the world’s greatest tour, but it will all pay off next week at his debut at the FedEx St. Jude Classic down in Memphis. GoPro took the time to take a deeper look inside his journey to stardom with his older brother.
Video of the Day! It’s not all trickshots for @bryanbrosgolf, as they realize their dreams of making @PGATOUR #GoProhttps://t.co/ZjpvpdwDO6
— GoPro (@GoPro) May 18, 2016
GolfTEC Students Advance Through U.S. Open Local Qualifying
GolfTEC Upland student, Pete Vilairatana, fired a one-under 71 to advance through U.S. Open Local Qualifying last Monday. Vilairatana carded a steady round, with one bogey and two birdies, the final of which came on the par-5 18th at Bermuda Dunes in southern California. Congratulations Pete, this is why we do it!
Mickelson agrees to pay back nearly $1 million to SEC
Phil Mickelson was not criminally charged in last Thursday’s SEC indictment, but has agreed to pay back an undisclosed amount of money to the SEC, reportedly north of $931,000. The report comes by way of an investigation into insider trading regarding Dean Foods stock.
Read more on the report and Mickelson’s role on Forbes.
Extras!
Jordan Spieth channeled his inner child (which isn’t too far in the past) last week at his youth golf clinic, sponsored by Under Armour.
.@JordanSpieth the magician @attbyronnelson@PGATOUR. pic.twitter.com/Q6T36oUvAP
— PGA TOUR Media (@PGATOURmedia) May 17, 2016
We also found out that if you want to beat Jordan, simply tie a golf ball to some balloons. He has trouble making consistent contact when they levitate:
Once again, in These Toddlers Are Better at Life Than You: This little guy has better clubs than you … although he does have a guy on the inside:
Be sure to check back here at the GolfTEC Scramble again next Monday for our latest weekly edition of The Links!
