Schauffele shoots closing 62 to win Tournament of Champions

[January 07, 2019]  (Reuters) - Xander Schauffele equalled the course record with an 11-under-par 62 to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions by a stroke ahead of Gary Woodland in Hawaii on Sunday.

Schauffele started the final round five strokes behind overnight leader Woodland and fell further back with a bogey at the first at the Kapalua Plantation course on Maui.

But two eagles -- the second from 105 yards at the par-four 12th -- and eight birdies catapulted the American to his fourth victory on the PGA Tour, his second in a couple of months after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai in late October.

Schauffele finished at 23-under 269, and then watched from the scoring trailer as Woodland missed a 10-foot birdie putt at the par-five 18th that would have forced a playoff.

"It was a crazy day," Schauffele told Golf Channel.
 

"I started off poorly, chipped in (on the par-five ninth) and then holed out shortly after that.

"I knew it was going to be a birdie-fest coming in. I got nervous coming down the stretch but I was able to pull off some shots."

None of those shots were better than the 200-yard approach he fired into the green at the par-four 17th, the hardest hole on the course, before reading the breaking nine-foot birdie putt perfectly .

The 25-year-old hit a similarly impressive approach at the last, a fairway-metal from 270 yards that he drew into the heart of the green before two-putting from 12 feet.

GA golfer Xander Schauffele tees off on the first hole during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament at Kapalua Resort - The Plantation Course. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

All four of his victories have been achieved playing the final round from behind.

"I'm definitely freed up," he said. "The next step is to go wire-to-wire, have a lead and maintain it.

"I have no idea what really works for me yet. This is only my third year out here. I can't tell you what the winning formula is."

Woodland, who started the day with a three-shot lead over Rory McIlroy, shot 68 and had to settle for second on 22-under.

"I'm playing great," he said. "Frustrated right now but Xander played great, hat's off to him. This one will sting tonight but we'll regroup."

Justin Thomas (65) finished third on 18-under, while McIlroy faded with a 72 to finish eight shots back tied for fourth.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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