The Champions and LPGA Tours rested this final full week of January, while the PGA, Web and European tours hosted important, early-season events. None disappointed in their results, and two of the three came down to the final holes before resolution.
The PGA Tour was in San Diego at Torrey Pines, host of the annual event and the upcoming 2021 U.S. Open. The Web.com Tour finished midweek in the Bahamas, while the European Tour closed a two-week run in the Emirates, in Dubai. Tour Rundown starts in 3, 2, 1, now.
Justin Rose holds off resurgent Scott at Farmers
Rose opened the week with 63, trailing 2017 champion Jon Rahm by one shot. Rose followed with 66 to seize the halfway lead from the Basque talent. Over the course of the weekend, the Englishman stayed just under 70 each round (69-69) and that effort was enough to keep a resurgent Adam Scott at arm’s length.
Rose ultimately won by two strokes, thanks in part to a clean card on the inward half. His three birdies on the home march held off the 2013 Masters champion, who currently rides a two-year winless horse. Scott finished electrically, with birdies over the final four holes, to reach 19-under par. His only blemish on the day was a fifth-hole bogey, and the 68 allowed him to hold solo second place at day’s end. Rose’s 10th PGA Tour win featured 3 bogeys in his first five holes on Sunday, turning a weekend waltz into a nail-biter. He set sail at the seventh with birdie, followed up with a second at the ninth, and came home unblemished for victory.
Hideki Matsuyama rebounded from a Saturday 73 to finish tied for third with Talor Gooch at 16 under par.
Bryson DeChambeau in rare form in Dubai for first European Tour title
The temptation to make a fifth estate-proclamation on this or that, after DeChambeau’s seven-shot triumph over Matt Wallace, is tempting. The Californian did post 26 birdies and two eagles over the 72 holes of the Dubai Desert Classic. Better than par every two to three holes is an uncommon feat, and is duly noted in DeChambeau’s rise in the rankings. This much is certain: when DeChambeau is on point, his confidence is palpable and his control, unwavering.
Such was the case in the Emirates, where 66-66-68-64 brought him to 24-under par, a country-code or two away from his chasers. Matthew Fitzpatrick opened with 65 for the lead, but posted consecutive 70s over the final three rounds for T16. Anything over 69 was akin to a dropped shot, as scores in the mid 60s were commonplace.
DeChambeau was hardly flawless, posting six bogeys over the course of the tournament. He avoided big numbers and encountered spates of birdies, on his way to professional win number seven, and his fifth since June of last year. Matt Wallace, the Xander Schauffele of last year’s European Ryder Cup-side race, continued his magnificent play into 2019 with 17 under for solo second, one shot clear of Paul Waring.
Rafael Campos leaps to first at Great Abaco on Web
John Oda had a rough day four in the Bahamas-he fell from first to T4 with a 76; Erik Compton had it worse, tumbling all the way to 25th after an 83. They were not along on Wednesday’s windy finale at The Abaco Club. Most golfers shot par or higher. Only two in contention were able to mildly master the challenging, seaside course as the tournament wound down.
Rafael Campos brought his island vibe from Puerto Rico to the top of the leader board, posting six birdies on the day for 70 and a one-shot victory over USA-mainlander Vincent Whaley of Kentucky. Campos began strong with two opening birdies, survived a double at the third, and won the tournament on the club’s inward half. Campos posted third birdies against no bogies coming home, and held off Whaley, who had five birdies against five bogeys on the day.
Paul Imondi matched Campos’ closing 70 for solo third at five under, two behind the champion. The victory elevated Campos into first place on the season-long chase for 25 PGA Tour cards, just ahead of last week’s winner, Zecheng Dou. After two Sunday-Wednesday events, the tour continues this week in Colombia, with a traditional Thursday-Sunday event in Bogota. Campos became the first golfer from Puerto Rico since Chi Chi Rodriguez to win a PGA Tour-sanctioned event, with his first-ever professional triumph.
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