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Tournaments

Sponsor’s exemption Matthew Wolff, 20, wins 3M Open with dramatic eagle on final hole

Josh BerhowBy Josh Berhow
July 7, 2019

Two rising talents and one proven Tour winner were tied for the 54-hole lead at the inaugural 3M Open in Blaine, Minn., but Sunday was a crazy day at TPC Twin Cities. Here’s what you missed.

Who won: Matthew Wolff (six-under 65, 21 under overall)

How it happened: Wyndham Clark had the solo lead at 17 under when the last pairing hit the back nine, but seven others were at 16 under and four were 15 under. So, yes, it was nuts from there. Carlos Ortiz birdied three of his last four to shoot 64 and post a number to beat (17 under), but soon several pros were in the mix. Collin Morikawa made his third straight birdie on the 13th to make it a six-way tie for the lead with Ortiz, Matthew Wolff, Adam Hadwin, Bryson DeChambeau and Clark, but Wolff grabbed the solo lead with a birdie on 14. It didn’t last, as Morikawa’s birdie on 16 tied Wolff at 19 under with two to play. In the penultimate group ahead of Wolff and Morikawa, DeChambeau made birdie on 16 and then rolled in a seven-footer for eagle on 18 to leapfrog the leaders, take the clubhouse lead at 20 under and force Wolff and Morikawa to make a birdie to tie him. Wolff did one better, draining this eagle putt from just off the green. Morikawa barely missed his eagle try and tapped in for birdie to tie DeChambeau for second.

Dynamic duo: Morikawa (22) and Wolff (20) grew up 30 minutes apart and played college golf against each other. On Sunday they were in the final pairing of a PGA Tour event at a combined 42 years old and both playing for Tour cards. They are without question two of the game’s young talents to watch.

Why it matters: It was just the fourth PGA Tour start for Wolff, and only his third as a pro. Now instead of playing on the lower tours and earning his PGA Tour card, his victory secures membership through the 2020-21 season. A Masters invite was also among the haul. Wolff, who was also the 2019 NCAA champ, is the youngest player to win on Tour since Jordan Spieth won the 2013 John Deere Classic at 19. “It was the most excited I’ve ever been,” Wolff said. “I’m usually not an emotional guy at all, but tears definitely came to my eyes when I stepped off and picked that ball up out of the hole [on 18].”

Best shot when it mattered by the runner-up: DeChambeau, 72nd hole, needing a birdie to tie and an eagle to grab the lead, pulled a six-iron from 202 yards on the par-5 18th.

Best finish by a 60-year-old pro on a course he redesigned: Minnesotan Tom Lehman was a fan favorite all week and closed with a 73. He tied for 58th.

Most club-drops by a guy who was leading at one point: Take a bow, Mr. Clark. (He tied for fifth.)

Up next: The John Deere Classic is the final PGA Tour stop before the Open Championship at Royal Portrush. A handful of Open participants are also playing the European Tour’s Scottish Open.