Austin Eckroat wins PGA Tour’s World Wide Technology Championship
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Austin Eckroat lines up a putt on the 15th green on Nov 7, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
PHOTO: AFP
LOS CABOS – Austin Eckroat shot a final-round nine-under 63 to take his second career PGA Tour title and second of 2024 at the World Wide Technology Championship on Nov 10 in Los Cabos, Mexico.
A third-year pro out of Oklahoma State, the 25-year-old Eckroat joined the tour in 2023 and previously won at the Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches in March.
His second win of the season put him in some elite company. He joins the likes of top money-earners Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy as one of six two-time winners in 2024.
“I’ve got a little work to do to really be at the same level, but it’s pretty special. As you say, half a dozen guys won twice this season, so that’s a great achievement,” Eckroat said.
He began the day a stroke behind leaders Justin Lower, Carson Young and Colombia’s Nico Echavarria, while he was tied with two others, Max Greyserman and Joe Highsmith. That group, with the exception of Echavarria, was tightly aligned through nine holes on the final day.
However, Eckroat caught fire to begin the back nine of El Cardonal at Diamante, creating some needed separation with four birdies across the first five holes (Nos. 10-12, 14).
“Oh, man, that’s probably some of the best golf I’ve ever played, just from the start putts were going in. I don’t know, it was automatic out there today, I guess is how you could call it,” Eckroat said.
That hot stretch, paired with his six birdies over his first eight holes, was ultimately necessary, as Eckroat fired his second bogey of the day on the par-five 18th, putting him at 24-under 264 for the tournament.
Eckroat’s bogey opened the door ever so slightly for Young (65), who could have forced a play-off with an eagle on 18.
However, Young, who carded seven other birdies on the day, settled for another to finish 23 under for the tournament, giving Eckroat a one-stroke victory.
“Obviously I didn’t win and congrats to Austin for that, that was one hell of a round today. I just missed a few six, eight-foot putts coming down the stretch on the back nine and that seemed to be the difference there,” Young said.
Lower (65), who was four strokes back after 17 holes, made up two of them on his own with an eagle on 18 to finish in a tie for second with Young.
Eckroat finished with 11 birdies against two bogeys to complete his remarkable day.
“It’s crazy I only won by one shooting nine-under par today from one back. Obviously everybody was playing well, it was a good battle,” he added. REUTERS
