AUSTIN – Sam Burns captured the biggest title of his career by winning the World Golf Championship Matchplay event on Sunday, routing Cameron Young 6 and 5 in an all-American final despite admitting he had been struggling for form and with his swing recently.
World No. 15 Burns took home the US$3.5 million (S$4.7 million) top prize at Austin Country Club in Texas by making eight birdies in the last 10 holes to dispatch the 17th-ranked Young, the 2022 British Open runner-up.
“What a week. Man, I’m so tired,” Burns said.
“It was fun playing Cam. I know he didn’t have his best stuff.”
It was the fifth career PGA title for Burns, who won all seven of his matches to become the first player to capture the WGC Championship Matchplay on his debut since Australian Geoff Ogilvy in 2006.
“I just tried to stack one good swing after another,” Burns said.
“Really have tried to put the hard work in and it’s nice to see it paying off on the golf course.”
Burns dethroned top-ranked defending champion Scottie Scheffler in 21 holes in the morning semi-finals while Young ousted third-ranked Rory McIlroy in 19 holes.
“Felt like I found something this morning at the end of my match with Scottie and kind of was able to carry that on this afternoon,” Burns said.
“It’s huge. I haven’t played my best golf the past couple of months and was really struggling with my swing the past couple of weeks.”
Young, who was chasing his first PGA victory, settled for his sixth runner-up showing.
“Frustrating to lose today. Out here you have to make a bunch of birdies and I just didn’t quite do it,” Young said.
Last season’s PGA Tour Rookie of the Year did, however, add: “It’s just further proof that I feel like I can hang with anybody in the world.”
In the final, Young won the second hole with a five-foot birdie putt but Burns dropped his approach inches from the hole for a birdie to claim the fifth and pull level.
Burns nearly holed out from 45 yards and birdied to win the par-five sixth then took the par-three seventh when Young missed a six-foot par putt and captured his fourth consecutive hole with a 20-foot birdie putt at the eighth, seizing a 3-up advantage.
Burns sank a 12-foot birdie putt to win the 10th for a 4-up lead and made a 24-foot birdie putt at the par-three 11th, although Young tied the hole with a 22-foot birdie putt.
Young found water to lose the par-five 12th and fall 5-down then plonked his ball into water shy of the 13th green and moments later surrendered the match. AFP
McIlroy, who will overtake Spain’s Jon Rahm to become world No. 2, led after every hole in defeating top-ranked Scheffler 2 and 1 in the third-place match to claim bragging rights ahead of the Masters in two weeks at Augusta National.
“It’s nice to walk away with a win after the disappointment of this morning not being able to put Cam away,” McIlroy said.
“Overall it has been a really good week, something to build on going into Augusta.”
The 33-year-old Northern Irishman can complete a career Grand Slam with a Masters triumph.
“I feel a lot better about things compared to two weeks ago (after missing the cut) at the Players Championship,” he said.
“All eyes on Augusta and just making sure the game is ready, but everything feels in really good order.”
Four-time Major winner McIlroy, the 2015 WGC Matchplay champion, and reigning Masters champion Scheffler, who won the Players Championship earlier in March, each stumbled late in the semi-finals.
McIlroy was 2-up with three holes to play. Scheffler missed a four-foot birdie putt for the match at the second extra hole.
AFP, REUTERS
