Hideki Matsuyama played his last 45 holes at the WGC-HSBC Champions without a bogey. That streak helped propel the three-time winner to a 23-under par on the tournament and a lead of seven or more strokes over the likes of Henrik Stenson and Rory McIlroy.
Matsuyama led after 54-holes and had no intention of relinquishing the lead, shooting a 6-under, 66 in his final round at the WGC-HSBC Champions. Last year’s winner, Russel Knox, was three strokes behind Matsuyama, so a repeat winner was a possibility. But Knox’s 2-over, 74 in his final round put a hamper on that.
While Matsuyama is a third-time winner, this win marks the first time that an Asian player has won a WGC event, making the win just a little more special.
Hideki Matsuyama played his final 45 holes this week without a bogey.
It was enough for Asia's first WGC title. https://t.co/unBYdsSU9F pic.twitter.com/jmSQxPakwy
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2016
While the WGC-HSBC Champions was going on in China, Cody Gribble took home the Sanderson Farms Championship in his first full year as a PGA Tour professional. The event, which took place in Jackson, Mississippi; was not easily won as Gribble had to dig himself from the 1-over hole he put himself in after the end of his first round. Gribble shot a 9-under, 63 to get back to 8-under on the tournament and it all seemed to click for him from there. He shot a 5-under third round and a 7-under final round to nab the trophy.
Cody Gribble can't remember the last time he won an individual tournament.
He'll remember this one. https://t.co/y8FcT8TlUt pic.twitter.com/fxOhAOYXIW
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 31, 2016
Next week the PGA Tour heads to TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open where Smylie Kaufman will try to defend his title and grab his second win in his second season on the PGA Tour.
Until then, I’ll let you judge how much the Golf God’s love Rory McIlroy.
Luck of the Irish?#QuickHits https://t.co/7M8LKLVHNx
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 30, 2016
