Bryson DeChambeau celebrates after winning the John Deere Classic

Silvis, Illinois - He's been called all kinds of things by his doubters and detractors

over the last few years (for his scientific methods and highly analytical approach

to the game) since gaining notoriety after winning the NCAA individual title and

the U.S Amateur in 2015, but now he will be known as a PGA Tour winner after

a thrilling back nine Sunday charge at TPC Deere Run.

When Patrick Rodgers birdied the par 4 - 15th, he seemed poised to notch win

No.1 of his own, but he struggled coming down the stretch just as DeChambeau

was putting the finishing touches on a ferocious back nine charge. Needing birdie

on the last two holes (or so he thought) to likely reach a playoff, the 23 year old

former SMU standout hit an incredible 3 wood from an awkward lie in the rough

from 270 yards out - reaching the putting surface and two putting for his birdie

on the penultimate hole. On the last, he admitted to pulling his 7 iron approach

slightly but a great result left him 14 feet behind the cup. The putt curled in on

what seemed like its last revolution - causing the crowd surrounding the green to

erupt. A closing back nine 30, for a final round 65 to reach 18 under par - not bad

for an unorthodox kid from Clovis, California

Rodgers bogeyed the par 5 - 17th just as the "Mad Scientist" made his final charge.

Then needing birdie at the last, he failed to hit the fairway or the green. His chip to

tie settled just a few inches away - coming up one stroke shy of his former college

rival.

DeChambeau moved to 34th in the Fedex Cup standings with the victory, but perhaps

more importantly, is the schedule of tournaments he will now be exempt for - starting

immediately with a flight across the pond for entry into the 146th Open Championship

at Royal Birkdale.

Dechambeau is a big admirer of the late Payne Stewart and reflected afterward about

having something in common with the iconic individual who won three major champion-

ships: "It feels like it has been a long time coming even though I'm only 23. It's pretty

special to win here at the John Deere, didn't know that Payne Stewart's first win was

here and that broke me - It was pretty special. So God bless him, he's done some

amazing things for the game of golf and I hope I can do something similar down the

road."

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PGA Tour Rookie Xander Schauffele celebrates his win at the Greenbrier

White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia - PGA Tour rookie Xander Schauffele who

showed the golf world what he was capable of at Erin Hills (finishing in a tie for

fifth at the U.S Open three weeks earlier), made birdie on the 72nd Hole to capture

his first PGA Tour victory at C.B McDonald's Greenbrier Old White Course.

Schauffele's pitching wedge to 3 feet on the last got him into the clubhouse at 14

under par after a final round 67. Then all he could do is wait as Robert Streb (69)

and 54 hole leader Sebastian Munoz attempted to better or tie the mark. Streb

came the closest - finishing one shot back (notching his second straight runner

up finish on the Old White Course). Jamie Lovemark (69) and Munoz finished at 12

under par tied for third.

The 2017 event was truly a dedication to the people of West Virginia and their

remarkable recovery following last summer's catastrophic floods that devastated the

region and destroyed much of the resort and it's neighboring town of White Sulphur

Springs. As a result, the 2016 event was cancelled and it appeared unlikely that the

facility would be ready for this year, but Governor and Greenbrier owner Jim Justice

rallied the community and provided the necessary resources to get it done in time

for the world's best players.

In response to his final swing from 162 yards (wedge), the 23 year old former All-

American from San Diego State said: "That birdie on 18 is not one that's going to

come along very often, so I'm just very fortunate to do it."

Schauffele, Streb, Lovemark and Munoz all qualified for The Open Championship at

Royal Birkdale by virtue of their finish at the Greenbrier.

Scores: http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboard.html

Kyle Stanley celebrates his first win on the PGA Tour in 5 years

Potomac, Maryland - At the conclusion of 72 holes at TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm,

there were two players tied at 7 under par, and neither had won in a very long time.

Both Kyle Stanley and Charles Howell III finished Sunday with final round 66's to

reach a sudden death playoff in the 2017 edition of the Quicken Loans National.

(The winless spell had been since 2012 for Kyle Stanley at the Waste Management

Phoenix Open, and since 2007 at Riviera for Charles Howell III).

Before the playoff, Charles Howell had an 18 foot putt on the last to end his ten year

drought, and as it neared the cup, it looked as if it was perfect speed, but even the

desperation of a fruitless decade couldn't keep the ball from sliding just off to the left.

Once again playing the eighteenth (for the first hole of the playoff), Howell III missed his

approach just right of the green leaving what appeared to be a routine up and down

from about 50 feet to save par. Stanley's approach landed close to the hole, but just rolled

through the back of the green leaving a delicate 20 foot downhill chip. Howell's stab from

just off the green was less than mediocre, leaving himself about 16 feet for his par.

Meanwhile, Stanley pulled off a gem with his downhill flick - leaving himself all of 4 feet

for his par. Howell wasted no time, and once again hit what looked like a solid putt from

nearly the same position as the one at the end of regulation, but this attempt missed right.

When Stanley poured his in the heart, thus ending his own journey of futility - the emotions

began to flow.

"There was some doubt there for a little bit," a teary eyed Stanley said. "Yeah, I mean it's

no fun - You certainly question if you'll get back to, you know, and have a moment like this.

It makes this pretty special for sure."

Stanley moved to 14th in Fedex Cup standings and qualified for the 146 Open Championship

at Royal Birkdale. The second place finish marked the 16th runner up for Charles Howell III

in his career, but the silver lining is that he too earned a spot at Royal Birkdale . . .

Rickie Fowler who shot a final round 65, tied for third with Martin Laird at 5 under par.

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