England’s Aaron Rai wins golf’s Wyndham Championship title as Max Greyserman collapses

Aaron Rai sank a birdie putt on the last hole from just inside seven feet in the gloom of twilight to secure the victory. PHOTO: AFP

GREENSBORO – Aaron Rai withstood a 36-hole marathon final on Aug 11 to win the rain-hit Wyndham Championship, taking his first PGA Tour title after American Max Greyserman squandered a four-stroke lead.

The 29-year-old Englishman sank a birdie putt on the last hole from just inside seven feet in the gloom of twilight to secure the victory at Greensboro, North Carolina.

“Incredible. A dream come true,” Rai said. “I’m extremely grateful. I think it hasn’t sunk in just yet. An amazing achievement.”

He fired a bogey-free six-under 64 after a third-round 68 to finish 72 holes at Sedgefield Country Club on 18-under 262.

That was good enough for a two-stroke victory over Greyserman (69), whose four-hole roller-coaster run on the back nine in the fourth round ended with heartbreak.

“I had a four-shot lead with five holes to go? If you’re doing that in a PGA Tour event, you’re doing something exceptionally well, so that’s what I’m going to walk away with,” the 29-year-old said.

“Stuff happens. I’m just going to walk away with more confidence, look at the positive things and learn from the mistakes.”

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Japan’s Ryo Hisatsune (64) and American J.J. Spaun (67) shared third on 265, with US amateur Luke Clanton (69) another stroke adrift.

A tropical storm dumped more than 15cm of rain on the course to wipe out play on Aug 8 and set the stage for finishing the second round early on Aug 11 then completing the last 36 holes by sunset.

Rai, who trailed most of the day, sank a 13-foot birdie putt at the par-three 12th to climb within two of Greyserman, who responded by holing out for eagle from the fairway from 91 yards at the par-four 13th hole, leaping to a four-stroke lead at 21 under.

But the drama was far from done, as Greyserman squandered his entire advantage on the very next hole.

Greyserman bounced his tee shot at No. 14 off a right side cart path and out of bounds, then put his third into the left rough, his fourth into a bunker and made a quadruple bogey to fall level with Rai at 17 under.

Greyserman made a tap-in birdie at the par-five 15th but followed with a four-putt bogey at the par-three 16th, missing twice from inside four feet to leave Rai ahead by one.

Max Greyserman’s four-hole roller-coaster run on the back nine in the fourth round ended with heartbreak. PHOTO: AFP
Rai blasted his approach at the 18th just inside seven feet and made the birdie putt for a two-shot edge.

When Greyserman could not manage another hole out from the fairway, Rai’s triumph was assured.

“I just did a good job of sticking to what we do well,” Rai said. “It was amazing to finish it off that way on 18.”

Rai has won twice on the DP World Tour – the 2018 Hong Kong Open and 2020 Scottish Open.

“Really pleased with how good a job I did just doing what I normally do,” he said. “I felt a little bit nervous at times but very proud of staying focused and pretty present throughout.”

The event was the PGA regular-season finale, with only the top 70 in season points advancing to the play-offs that start this week.

The only player to secure his play-off spot on Aug 11 was No. 70 Victor Perez of France.

“I knew I needed to do something over this long day,” Perez said. “Felt like I played well.”

American Matt Kuchar, who decided not to finish the 18th hole due to darkness, is assured of not reaching the play-offs for the first time since they began in 2007.

Matt Kuchar decided not to finish the 18th hole due to darkness. PHOTO: AFP
Not since Jack Nicklaus in 1961 has an amateur enjoyed three PGA top-10 finishes but 20-year-old Clanton got his third on Aug 11.

“That’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s awesome being out here. Playing against the best players in the world, it’s pretty sweet.”

He played 39 holes on Aug 11 and is set to compete in the US Amateur starting on Aug 12.

Meanwhile, in a first in league history, LIV Golf suspended Ulsterman Graeme McDowell for one event on Aug 11 for violating its anti-doping policy.

LIV said in a statement that the 2010 US Open winner was found to have used a decongestant that included a banned substance, R-methamphetamine (levo-methamphetamine), during LIV Golf Nashville in June.

McDowell will be ineligible to play the LIV Golf Greenbrier this week in West Virginia. He was also assessed a US$125,000 (S$166,000) fine, and the points he and his team (Smash GC) accrued at LIV Golf Nashville will be deducted. AFP, REUTERS

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