J.J. Spaun became the last man into the 86th Masters Sunday afternoon in San Antonio when he got that first career victory at the Texas Open.
Once again, Spaun proved it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish as he overcame a double-bogey six on his first hole of the final round and went on to shoot a closing 69 that gave him a two-shot victory over a pair of Matts — Jones and Kuchar.
“To overcome a lot of things — it’s everything you dream of,” Spaun said after his first win in 147 starts on the PGA Tour. He pointed out how the opening hiccup didn’t get to him. “The double? Didn’t bother me as much as you’d think. I’d rather double the first than the last hole.”
He admitted that he let The Masters sneak into his mind. “I was thinking about it last night,” he said. “But you have to stay in the present and I was able to do that.”
Spaun was able to fight his way out of a host of contenders — Jones, Kuchar, Beau Hossler and Dylan Fritelli, all had chances to get the victory. But it was Spaun who fought back after the double with birdies at the sixth and eighth holes. He gained more momentum when he pitched in at the ninth from off the green for two straight. He was bogey-free coming home, adding birdies at 11 and 14. His most reliable club — the putter. He made nice par saves down the stretch. Over his final 36 holes, he was 31-for-31 on putts inside 10 feet.
Aussie Steve Alker Crushes The Field At Rapiscan:
Steve Alker continues to be the incredible story of the Champions Tour.
Alker won for the second time Sunday with a closing 65 to win the Rapiscan Systems Classic as the Great Bear Golf Club in Biloxi.
He basically blew the rest of the field away, shooting 18-under par for the 54-hole event, a tournament record. He left most in the dust with his 62 on Saturday, a course record.
“My game was there,” Alker said in a major understatement. “I didn’t quite have it the first day but just kind of freed it up and let it go.” He finished six shots ahead of Paddy Harrington (65) and Alex Cjeka (67), who tied for second at 12-under par.
Alker played his way onto the Champions Tour last season. He Monday-qualified for the Boeing Classic then finished seventh in the event. He recorded nine top 10s in his final 10 starts to finish 2021, including victory at the TimberTech. He’s been no lower than 20th in all four of his starts this season.
One Comment
baxter cepeda
Another week a guy separates himself with putting and short game.
This guy has been on my radar but I have this thing where I need to see players win on the pga tour before they become potential picks.
jJ will be a pick going forward.
Maybe not this week obvio.
But the guy is a baller. And it’s always exciting and refreshing when we get someone doing amazing things in golf whom looks closer to Tiger than everyone else.
Cute family.
I’m a fan.