Spieth wins again: Jordan Spieth birdied his final three holes, chipping in from behind the 17th green and closing with a 34-foot putt, and shot a 5-under 65 to win at Colonial for his first home state victory. He also won the 2014 U.S. Senior Open. Simpson and Spieth completed their second rounds at the Dean & Deluca Invitational. Colonial member Ryan Palmer was among four player tied for fifth at 66. With the first-prize check of $1.2 million, Spieth has earned more than $24 million on the PGA Tour.
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Rocco Mediate played the first 13 holes in 9 under and closed with five pars for a 62 to match the Senior PGA Championship and Harbor Shore records Thursday. The three-time PGA Tour victor has successfully fought a rare skin condition, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, to play the 50-and-over tour.
Taking advantage of greens softened by overnight rain, Mediate matched the marks set by Kenny Perry in the 2012 final round.
Mediate, a six-time PGA Tour victor, said the experience of losing the 2008 U.S. Open in a 18-hole playoff to Tiger Woods had helped him close out the win over Montgomerie, who has won three senior majors since joining the Champions Tour in 2013. He has two PGA Tour Champions victories after winning six times on the PGA Tour.
His total of 265 was the lowest in the tournament’s history and Montgomerie was quick to pay tribute. The Scot won in 2014 at Harbor Shores and previous year at French Lick Resort in Indiana.
The 51-year-old Dal Corobbo is at 11-under 202 and three shots behind the 54-hole leader Mediate, who is in search of his first senior major title.
Ariya Jutanugarn, coming off consecutive wins on the LPGA Tour, was a shot back after her morning round.
Jutanugarn became the first Thai victor in tour history three weeks ago in Alabama and followed that up last week with a victory in Virginia. It will be Daly’s third tournament – and second senior major – with a group of golfers who helped Daly when he was first starting off as a pro nearly 30 years ago. He tied for second at Hogan’s Alley past year, one stroke behind Chris Kirk. He had shot 70-70-69 and held a share of fourth place last week at Greystone Golf & Country Club in Birmingham, Ala., before posting a final-round 74 and fading. The 18-year-old Henderson has nine top-10 finishes this season.
Masters champion Danny Willett had a third at 7 under after a 71.
Gene Sauers had a bogey-free 63.
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Starting on the 10th hole, Daly arrived at the par-4 16th at even on the round. “That was all”, he said, referring to the European Tour’s flagship event. Fans flocked to the event to see the two-time major champion and golf legend tee it up on the Senior Circuit, and his performance wasn’t too shabby either: a tie for 17th.
