Individuals Andrew Novak and Ben Griffin gained their first PGA Tour titles on Sunday by teaming as much as seize the Zurich Basic pairs occasion.
They mixed to fireside a one-under par 71 in Sunday’s alternate shot remaining spherical to complete 72 holes at TPC of Louisiana on 28-under 260 and defeat Danish twins Rasmus and Nicolai Hojgaard by one stroke.
Struggling after popping out of a 2 1/2-hour storm delay with back-to-back bogeys to shut the entrance 9, Novak and Griffin parred alongside the again 9 till Griffin sank a clutch 35-foot birdie putt on the par-three seventeenth.
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“That putt I’m simply making an attempt to lag it up there shut for Andrew,” Griffin mentioned. “I took a line the place I believed I’d make it and fortuitously hit it on it and it fell within the centre.” They parred the final for the victory however the Danes had stored the strain on them with birdies on three of the final six holes.
“I’m actually glad I had Ben to information me by it right this moment,” Novak mentioned. “The wheels had been coming off. I used to be having some points, particularly after the climate delay, however he performed superior. We stored it collectively. That putt on 17 was unbelievable and I’m glad we acquired it completed.”
Novak turned the primary participant to lose in a PGA Tour playoff one week, falling to Justin Thomas eventually week’s Heritage match, after which win the subsequent week since 2022, when American Patrick Cantlay misplaced a Heritage playoff then gained the Zurich title.
After a bogey-birdie begin, Novak and Griffin birdied the fifth and par-five seventh holes earlier than the storm struck with them on 29-under and forward by three, a lead that fell to 1 as they started the again 9.
Defending champions Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, making an attempt to change into the primary back-to-back Zurich winners, settled for a share of twelfth on 266 after a closing 72.
McIlroy captured his third title of the 12 months two weeks in the past on the Masters to finish a profession Grand Slam. He’s planning for some relaxation forward of subsequent month’s PGA Championship at Quail Hole, a course the place he has gained 4 occasions.
“I’ve acquired to simply take a little bit little bit of time,” he mentioned. “It’s good to have per week off, reset and attempt to get some apply in.
“I’m wanting ahead to some days off after which kind of kicking the toes up and making an attempt to recharge the batteries a little bit bit.”
Australia’s Karl Vilips completed three photographs again from the winners, taking part in alongside American Michael Thorbjornsen.
The duo, who attended Tiger Woods’ faculty Stanford College collectively, had been within the hunt for victory till Vilips pulled his tee shot into the water left of the inexperienced on the par 3 seventeenth.
They made double bogey to finish their hopes however responded by birding the final to log off for a remaining spherical 68.
Fellow Australian Cam Davis and taking part in accomplice Adam Svensson had a day to overlook as they tumbled down the leaderboard with a 78 after beginning the ultimate spherical 5 photographs off the lead.