Cantlay takes PGA Memorial; Saso wins US Women’s Open
- 07 Jun 2021
Patrick Cantlay sank a clutch par putt on the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat Collin Morikawa and win the US PGA Memorial tournament for the second time in three years.
World number 15 Cantlay sank a 14-foot birdie putt on the 71st hole in regulation play to grab a share of the lead, then rolled in a 12-foot par putt on the first extra hole and won when US compatriot Morikawa, the 2020 PGA Championship winner, couldn’t match him from eight feet.
Cantlay, the 2019 Memorial winner, and sixth-ranked Morikawa each fired one-under par 71 in the final round to finish 72 holes on 13-under 275 at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio.
The course was still abuzz after third-ranked Jon Rahm’s stunning departure Saturday after testing positive for Covid-19.
The Spaniard had fired a 64 to grab a six-stroke lead before being forced to withdraw as Morikawa and Cantlay went from a distant second to the 54-hole lead.
Cantlay, 29, captured his fourth PGA title, the first since last October’s Zozo Championship at Sherwood.
Morikawa, 24, missed out on his fifth PGA title on the same course where he won a Covid-19 replacement tournament last July.
The playoff on the par-4 18th hole saw Morikawa find the fairway but with mud on his ball while Cantlay was on a slope in the right rough.
Morikawa hit a 6-iron into left greenside rough while Cantlay blasted an 8-iron shot into a left bunker.
Morikawa punched out to eight feet from the hole while Cantlay blasted 12 feet past the cup but rolled in his putt while Morikawa missed to end the day-long battle.
American Scottie Scheffler was third on 277 with South African Brenden Grace on 278 and American Patrick Reed fifth on 280.
Saso edges Hataoka: Philippine teenager Yuka Saso birdied the third playoff hole to beat Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and win the US Women’s Open at Olympic Club on Sunday.
Saso, 19, shook off two early double bogeys, coming back with late birdies at 16 and 17 in a two-over 73 to thrust herself into a playoff with a four-under total of 280 for 72 holes.
As overnight leader Lexi Thompson faded, Hataoka carded a final-round 68, but after both she and Saso parred both holes of the two-hole aggregate playoff, it was Saso who came up with a birdie at the sudden-death third hole.
Saso matched South Korean Park In-bee as the youngest winners in the championship’s history at 19 years, 11 months and 17 days, and earned her LPGA tour membership.
“I don’t know what’s happening in the Philippines right now, but I’m just thankful that there’s so many people in the Philippines cheering for me,” said Saso, whose professional resume included two Japan LPGA victories but no wins on the US LPGA tour.
“I don’t know how to thank them. They gave me so much energy. I want to say thank you to everyone.”
Agence France-Presse
