Dylan Frittelli books Open Championship spot with maiden PGA Tour win
- Published
Frittelli is the 12th first-time winner on the PGA Tour this season
John Deere Classic final leaderboard |
|---|
-21 D Frittelli (SA); -19 R Henley (US); -18 A Landry (US); -17 C Morikawa (US), C Stroud; -16 C Howell III (US), V Taylor (US), N Watney (US), A Schenk (US) |
Selected others: -10 Z Johnson (US), M Laird (Sco) |
South African Dylan Frittelli secured a place in next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush after his maiden PGA Tour title at the John Deere Classic.
The 29-year-old world number 133, two shots back overnight, carded a bogey-free seven under 64 to reach 21 under.
It gave him a two-shot victory ahead of Russell Henley, who had 10 birdies in a 61 at TPC Deere Run in Illinois.
Frittelli has played in the last two Open Championships and he failed to make the cut on both occasions.
A superb bunker shot on the opening hole gave him a tap-in birdie, the first of three in succession on the final day in Silvis.
Henley made six putts of over seven feet in his tournament-best round, including efforts from 26 and 46 feet, to set the clubhouse target at 19 under.
Frittelli birdied the par five 17th after playing out of a greenside bunker to 11 feet to ensure a comfortable finish, and looked forward to the tournament's charter flight to Royal Portrush.
"Hopefully I can be calm by the time I get there but I'm sure it's going to be a fun flight," he said, ahead of Thursday's opening round in Northern Ireland.