PGA TOUR
Rocket Mortgage Classic
Cam Davis Earns Maiden PGA Tour Win
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Sydney’s Cam Davis made it three wins for Australian golfers on the world’s stage over the weekend after claiming his first PGA Tour title at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Michigan. Hours earlier Victoria’s Lucas Herbert scored his second win on the European Tour at the Irish Open. And, on Saturday, Sydney’s Stephanie Kyriacou collected her second Ladies European Tour title at the Big Green Egg Dutch Ladies Open.
Davis had to work hard for his first PGA Tour win. The 26-year-old got the job done after a three-way playoff with America’s Troy Merritt and Chile’s Joaquin Niemann. Davis outlasted Merritt at the fifth extra hole. Niemann existed the playoff at first extra hole. The last time the PGA Tour ended in a playoff in back-to-back weeks was in January this year at the two events in Hawaii.
Davis, who won the 2017 Australian Open holding off Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, joined the PGA Tour’s winner’s circle in his 71st start. His previous best finish on the PGA Tour was solo third at The American Express in January this season.
Davis, who owns one win on the Korn Ferry Tour (2018 Nashville Open), started the final round one shot back from joint 54-hole leaders Merritt and Niemann. The young Aussie made the turn in 36 shots with one birdie and one bogey. He then made his move on the back nine with three consecutive birdies from the 12th hole. An untidy three-putt bogey at the 16th hole seemed to end his bid for the win. However, the lanky long-hitter bolted into the playoff after producing a hole-out eagle from the greenside bunker at the par 5, 17th hole before making a clutch birdie at the 72nd hole. Davis was the only player in the last 12 pairings on Sunday to birdie the 18th hole in regulation play.
Davis posted rounds of 68, 68, 67 and 67 to reach 18-under. Merritt and Niemann closed with a pair of 4-under 68s to get to 18-under and make it a three tied at the top of the leaderboard after regulation play.
Niemann, aged 22, was looking to become just the third player in PGA Tour history to go bogey-free for a tournament and win to join Lee Trevino at the 1974 Greater New Orleans Open and JT Poston at the 2019 Wyndham Championship. The world No. 30 made his only bogey for the week at the first extra hole to exit the playoff. Niemann, who was 17 from 17 in scrambling for the tournament, lost the playoff to Harris English at Sentry Tournament of Champions in January this year.
Merritt, aged 35, was searching for his third PGA Tour title. The world No. 128 collected his last victory at the Barbasol Championship in 2018. Merrit, who fired a hole-in-one on Saturday, was hoping to become the first player to win after making an ace in the event since Webb Simpson last year. At the fifth playoff hole, the American missed a six-foot par putt to extend the event.
On the PGA Tour this season, Davis is the seventh first-time winner and the fourth Australian to score a title after Matt Jones at The Honda Classic and Marc Leishman & Cameron Smith who won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau missed the cut by two shots after rounds of 72 and 71.
The PGA Tour moves to TPC Deere Run in Illinois for the John Deere Classic. Dylan Frittelli is the defending champion.
Final Scores
Rocket Mortgage Classic
1. Cam Davis -18
T2. Troy Merritt -18
T2. Joaquin Niemann -18
T4. Alex Noren -17
T4. Hank Lebioda -17
T6. Bubba Watson -16
T6. Brandon Hagy -16
T8. Mark Anderson -15
T8. Sungjae Im -15
T8. Seamus Power -15
T8. Kevin Kisner -15
Other Australians
T14. Jason Day -13
T41. Cameron Percy -8
T41. Aaron Baddeley -8
T52. Matt Jones -7
MC. Rhein Gibson +1
Photo credit: Gregory Shamus/ Getty Images
