Los Angeles (United States) (AFP) – Sweden’s Ludwig Aberg drained a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win the Genesis Invitational at Torrey Pines on Sunday. Aberg played the last six holes at 4-under as he posted a final round 66 to pip American Maverick McNealy to the title — his second on the PGA Tour.
After a mixed front nine, where he made four birdies and two bogeys, Aberg came alive on the back nine with three straight birdies from the 13th hole. McNealy was in the clubhouse with his 8-under 64 putting him on 11-under for the tournament when Aberg approached the 18th tied for the lead. The Swede blasted a perfect drive 317-yards down the middle of the fairway but left himself plenty of work to do after his approach shot ended up on the back of the green, 70 feet from the hole.
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Aberg, needing two putts for the tournament winning birdie, left himself with a tricky 7-foot putt but kept his cool to sink it and claim the $4 million first prize at the tournament hosted by Tiger Woods. “It was awesome. It was a great, you know, a great fight. Obviously, the golf course is tough but I felt like I was in control of the ball flight all day and I’m really proud of the way that I finished. It was really cool,” said Aberg.
“It’s so much fun kind of coming down the last couple trying to win a tournament. It really is a special feeling and I’m proud of the way that I fought today,” he added. McNealy was on the range keeping himself loose ahead of a possible playoff when the roar went up as Aberg clinched the win on the 18th. It was a tough blow for the 29-year-old, who reached the turn at 6-under and made three more birdies before a bogey on the par-4 14th opened the door to Aberg. “A few poor shots and an unlucky break or two at the end but I definitely had a few things go my way earlier in the round,” said McNealy.
– Scheffler still searching –
World number one Scottie Scheffler had threatened to make a late charge, chipping in from the bunker on the 15th to get within two shots of the lead. But last year’s Player of the Year lost the momentum with a bogey on the next hole and his birdie on the last wasn’t enough. His round of 66 was a 10-shot improvement on his disappointing display on Saturday that left him with a mountain to climb.
“I wouldn’t say it was too much to overcome. I just wasn’t able to hit all the shots today. I could have given myself a few more opportunities,” he said. Scheffler, who missed the early part of the season while he recovered from a hand injury, said he was not yet happy with his game. “I think I feel pretty bad about where I’m at. It’s not easy to come out here and play competitive golf at a high level and get right back to where I was last year, losing those weeks that I had at home where I couldn’t do anything,” he said.
“I’m trying to give myself a little bit of grace and some patience, kind of getting back into the swing of things. I did some things in the last few weeks that I’m happy with and definitely some things that I need to improve on,” he added. Scheffler finished tied for third with Patrick Rodgers, both three shots off Aberg. The tournament was held at the course near San Diego, instead of the usual home at Riviera, because of wildfire damage in Los Angeles.
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