PGA TOUR
The RSM Classic
Gooch Claims Maiden PGA Tour Title...Smith Top 5
Talor Gooch won his first PGA Tour in emphatic-style with victory at The RSM Classic by three shots. It was the 30-year-old American’s 104th start on golf’s major tour. Australian Cameron Smith closed with a stunning 6-under 64 to end in a tie for fourth place.
Gooch entered the PGA Tour’s final official event for 2021 with form on his side. Since the PGA Tour’s re-start in September for the 2021/22 wrap around season, Gooch had enjoyed 4 top 11 results from his five starts. He opened the new season with a T4 result at the Fortinet Championship and ended T5 two starts later at The CJ CUP.
The Oklahoma State University collegian fired rounds of 64, 65, 67 and 64 at Sea Island Resort in Georgia to reach 22 under. Gooch’s 64 on Sunday was his eighth round of 65 or better since the start of the PGA Tour 2021/22 schedule in September—the most by any player this season.
Gooch held a three-shot lead going into Sunday. It was the first time in his career he held the 54-hole lead at a PGA Tour event. The world No. 52 opened his account on the final day with birdies at the 2nd and 4th holes to cover the font nine in 33 shots. He then raced clear of the field with birdies at the 10th, 11th, 13th and 15th holes and closed out his breakthrough win with three consecutive pars. Gooch went bogey-free at his last 26 holes and made just two bogeys for the week. With Gooch’s victory, seven of the last 12 players to hoist The RSM Classic have been first time PGA Tour winners.
Canada’s Mackenzie Hughes moved into outright second place after an impressive 8-under 62 on Sunday to get to 19-under. Columbia’s Sebastian Munoz closed with a 5-under 65 to claim solo third pace at 18-under. Munoz fired an incredible 10-under 60 on Thursday to lead the event after Round One. Smith was joined in a share of fourth place at 15-under with Ireland’s Seamus Power and Americans Tom Hoge and Tyler McCumber. McCumber had a putt at the final green to shoot a 59. His round of 60 matched Munoz for the course record.
The PGA Tour’s next official event tees off on January 6, 2022 with the Sentry Tournament of Champions staged at Kapalua, Hawaii. America’s Harris English is the defending champion.
Final Scores
The RSM Classic
1. Talor Gooch -22
2. Mackenzie Hughes -19
3. Sebastian Munoz -18
T4. Cameron Smith -15
T4. Tyler McCumber -15
T4. Tom Hoge -15
T4. Seamus Power -15
Other Australians
T37. Adam Scott -7
MC. Jason Day
MC. Cam Davis
MC. Matt Jones
MC. Brett Drewitt
Photo credit: Sam Greenwood/Getty Images
