At just 20, Matthew Wolff added his name to the history books alongside illustrious names following his dramatic victory in the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities.
Playing in only his fourth PGA Tour tournament and his third as a professional, Wolff sunk an eagle putt on the final hole to record a one-shot victory over fellow rookie and close friend Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau, who had looked set for a play-off after eagling the last himself.
But Wolff, needing a birdie to tie clubhouse leader DeChambeau, stroked home a 26-foot putt from just off the green for eagle. He finished a shot clear of DeChambeau and playing partner in the last group Morikawa, who narrowly missed his own eagle putt and had to settle for tied second.
The victory saw Wolff become the youngest PGA Tour winner since Jordan Spieth won the John Deere Classic in a play-off in 2013.
Wolff also became just the third player to win an NCAA Individual Championship and a PGA Tour title in the same year, having won the 2019 NCAA Division I title for Oklahoma State University before turning professional.
“I’ve changed forever, I guess,” Wolff said after his victory. “It’s a really special feeling. I just proved to myself I can be out here.
“I’ve been told so many times before that I was born for moments like these, I live for moments like these. It doesn’t get better than this.”
Tears flowed after he sunk the winning putt and was congratulated by caddie Steve Lohmeyer, who not only resembles his boss but was also working for Wolff for the first time at the 3M Open.
Wolff added: “I was shaking, to be honest. A lot of my putts weren’t going in today, and I was just kind of telling myself one’s bound to drop in.
“It happened at the right time. I just gave it a chance and it went over the right spot that I pointed out. And as soon as it dropped, the tears started coming.
“It was the most excited I’ve ever been. I’m usually not an emotional guy at all, but tears definitely came to my eyes when I stepped off and picked that ball up out of the hole.”
What was lost among the emotional story of victory was that Wolff actually equalled the course record at TPC Twin Cities during his third round 62 on Saturday.
The victory means Wolff is certain of his status on the PGA Tour for the next two seasons with the 3M Open title earning him exemption until 2021.
Wolff is also guaranteed a place in the 2020 US Masters at Augusta, where he will make his major debut, and the 2020 USPGA Championship, which will take place at Harding Park in California.
Wolff’s previous best result was his T50 in the Phoenix Open at the start of the year when he competed as an amateur. He followed that with a DNF at Travelers Championship on his professional debut in June and then missed the cut at the Rocket Mortgage Classic last week.
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