Nick Hardy, Davis Riley team up to win golf’s Zurich Classic
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Davis Riley (left) and Nick Hardy after their win at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana.
PHOTO: AFP
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NEW ORLEANS – Americans Nick Hardy and Davis Riley captured their first PGA titles on Sunday by winning the Zurich Classic in record-setting fashion in the tour’s only pairs tournament.
Playing in the foursomes (alternate shot) format in the final round, the duo combined to shoot a seven-under 65 for a tournament-record 30-under 258 at TPC Louisiana in Avondale.
The winners’ score ecclipsed the tournament best of 259 set in 2022 by Americans Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
“This is so special and to share it with one of my best friends out here on tour is a dream come true. It’s pretty surreal,” Riley said.
“I know the work Nick puts in and I put in, and for it to all pay off and share this moment with Nick is pretty cool.”
The Americans birdied five of the last eight holes. Riley sank a long birdie putt from off the green at the 17th before a par at the last gave them a two-shot victory over Nick Taylor and Adam Hadwin (63).
“That’s definitely up there,” Riley said in ranking his birdie putt at the penultimate hole among his best shots. “It was one of those I just tried to hit with good speed and just leave Nick a good par putt and I hit it just right and it went in.”
Hardy has been friends with Riley since they were 14.
“Really solid down the stretch and it just feels great to close,” Hardy said.
“Davis has been so good this week, I knew I just needed to play my game and be solid because he has been playing so well and we did that.”
Canadians Hadwin and Taylor, who started the day seven shots back, combined for seven straight birdies from the seventh hole for a 63 to tie the tournament record for a foursomes round.
Cantlay and Schauffele, ranked fourth and fifth in the world respectively, shot a 66 to share fourth on 262 with Taylor Moore and Matthew NeSmith (69).
Americans Wyndham Clark and Beau Hossler – the third-round leaders – finished third on 261 after a closing 71. It marked the fifth time Hossler has held a lead entering the final round of a PGA event without winning.
Keith Mitchell and South Korea’s Im Sung-jae, who began the day one shot off the lead, posted a 72 and finished sixth at 25 under. AFP
