Monday Finish: Kuchar has killer instinct to go with killer smile

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Notes and observations from Sunday’s final round of The Greenbrier Classic where rookie Xander Schauffele produced a clutch shot into the 72nd hole to set up a birdie and his maiden win on the PGA TOUR. Schauffele’s 3-under 67 on Sunday set the mark at 14-under and no one could match the 23-year-old who kept the youth movement on TOUR trending upward and onward. Robert Streb (69) claimed his second straight Greenbrier Classic runner up finish a stroke behind with Jamie Lovemark (69) and Sebastian Munoz (72) tied third at 12-under. For more from The Old White TPC, check out the Daily Wrap. X MARKS THE WIN Xander Schauffele stood on the 72nd hole at The Old White TPC with a share of the lead staring down the barrel of a 162-yard shot that could change his life. He figured Robert Streb and Sebastian Munoz behind him would birdie the par-5 17th, even though he hadn’t managed to, so it was birdie or bust. At just 23, you might think the moment would get the better of the PGA TOUR rookie.  But this was the same guy who had made a name for himself at the recent U.S. Open with a T5 finish. The guy groomed for the moment by his athletic father, who doubles as his swing coach. For more on the PGA TOUR rookie, click here. “There was a little bit of altitude up here, so my caddie and I, we looked at a pitching wedge and 9-iron and, under the gun, you never want to swing something soft, so we grabbed the pitching wedge real quick,â€� Schauffele said. He then stiffed it to three feet, calmly made the birdie, and watched as neither Streb nor Munoz could match him. “It’s slowly sinking in. I had a couple minutes to myself in the locker room, but it’s just been an incredible feeling and it’s honestly just a dream come true,â€� he said. “In the third round you can always see the pin location (for the next day). I looked at it and looked at my caddie and I said, man, that is kind of brutal. “That birdie on 18 is not one that’s going to come along very often, so I’m just very fortunate to do it.â€� Having moved through Web.com Q-School and then the Web.com Finals in his first attempts those close to his team are not surprised by his rapid rise. His victory comes in just his 24th start on the PGA TOUR. “My dad kind of put me on some plan of his and I would say we’re trending, that’s what he would say at least. I’m just happy to play the role,â€� the former All-American from San Diego State added. Starting the event in 94th spot in the FedExCup Schauffele looked good for a spot in the Playoffs but was not confirmed. Now at 27th his looking at the TOUR Championship as the goal. “The U.S. Open was one of the biggest stages and for me to kind of be calm and collected throughout the week and just kind of hang on and come in tied fifth was huge for me mentally, so it kind of gave me the confidence and allowed me to play and win this week,â€� he said. “Besides winning, obviously East Lake, and the FedExCup playoffs are the main goal for most of the guys out here. “Everyone that knows me knows I’m a late bloomer, so to jump in the Top-30 in this fashion is something special for me.â€� CALL OF THE DAY PUTTER GOES MISSING FOR MUNOZ Sebastian Munoz led through the opening three rounds at The Greenbrier Classic thanks heavily to a red-hot putter so when it went ice-cold on Sunday, a win was always going to be hard to find. The PGA TOUR rookie had gained over three shots a round on the field in putting through 54 holes put on Sunday he lost 4.867 shots to the field on the greens, leading to a 2-over 72. It left him in a tie for third at 12-under, two back of Xander Schauffele’s winning total. Munoz had made 143’9â€� of putts Thursday, 126’5â€� on Friday and 125’11â€� on Saturday but on Sunday he made just 32’. His longest made putt was from 3’10â€�. “That was totally the difference,â€� the Colombian admitted. “I just never found a rhythm with it. I was taking it back too quick and I realized that on the final few holes. I wasn’t swinging good enough to make a difference.â€� Munoz moved from 198th to 140th in the FedExCup standings, solidifying at very least a spot in the Web.com Tour Finals. He also earned a berth in The Open Championship and with the John Deere Classic next week has his sights set on the top 125. “That’s what it’s all about, it’s about getting better, about keeping building, getting experiences. It is my first year, first time being in a tournament on the back nine, so just take it as an experience, positive, and move on for the next one,â€� he said. “I needed to make a move (in the FedExCup) so this is going to definitely help. I just have to bring it home in the last four or five events.â€� STREB SEES SILVER LINING IN FEDEXCUP MOVE Robert Streb was somewhat frustrated with his second consecutive runner up finish at The Greenbrier Classic but could find some solace in securing his PGA TOUR card and a place in the FedExCup Playoffs. Streb, who lost in a playoff to Danny Lee in the 2015 event, had the lead on the back nine only to be derailed by a double bogey on the par-4 13th hole. His drive sailed left into a hazard and he failed to get up and down from the back of the green to limit the damage. The 30-year-old bounced back with a birdie bomb on the 14th but then failed to make any further inroads and settled for a 1-under 69 and 13-under total, one back. “I’m a little disappointed there with obviously my drive on 13 and not a very good effort on 16 and 17, trying to make birdies there. So a little frustrating,â€� he said. “Didn’t hit my best wedge on 16 and obviously left a putt short, a really good look at it. And kind of squandered the up-and-down there on 17. I was trying to hit it close on 18 and just didn’t do it.â€� What the solo second did do was rocket Streb up the FedExCup standings. Starting the week in 137th on the points list Streb was in danger of losing his status earned from his 2014-15 win at The McGladrey Classic. But the 300 points earned catapulted him to 68th and ensures a spot in the post-season. “That is really helpful. Obviously I was on the wrong side of the number coming here, but it’s funny, one week can change it. “This place has been very good to me. Finally got some results out of the good play. Kind of got the putter going a little bit again and everything seems to be turning the right way.â€� BIRKDALE BABY! As the second PGA TOUR event of The Open Qualifying Series, The Greenbrier Classic determined Open Championship berths for the top four players finishing in the top 12 who weren’t otherwise exempt. Winner Xander Schauffele will tee it up in his first Open Championship at Royal Birkdale hot off the heels of his T5 finish at the U.S. Open. Robert Streb returns for his third successive Open Championship after being T18 in 2015 and missing the cut last year. Jamie Lovemark made his Open Championship last season but missed the cut while Sebastian Munoz will play his very first major on July 20-23. “I might have played one or two links courses ever, so it should be quite a different experience,â€� Munoz said. “I just hope it’s not as breezy as it always is, because I’m more of a high ball player, but it will be a great experience, so we’ll see.â€� Next week’s John Deere Classic holds open one spot for the highest finisher in the top 5 not already exempt. PHIL FIRES LATE Phil Mickelson saved his best for last with a 6-under 64 on Sunday, sending him towards The Open Championship with some momentum. Mickelson finished at 6-under to be tied 20th, the first time in four tries he’s made the cut at the Greenbrier Classic where he is an ambassador. The 2013 Open represents the last time Mickelson found the winners circle, a now four-year drought. “It’s nice to get a little bit of momentum and to finally shoot a number that I feel like I’ve been playing well enough to shoot,â€� Mickelson said. “I’m going to head over there later this week and get a few extra days in at Birkdale. My first Open Championship I ever played in 1991 was at Birkdale, so I have a real affinity for the golf course. I just have a special place in my heart for it, and I’m looking forward to playing there this year.â€� SHOT OF THE DAY ODDS AND ENDS Davis Love III was gunning to be the oldest winner in PGA TOUR history starting Sunday just four back but the 53-year-old soon to be Hall-Of-Fame inductee struggled to a final round 5-over 75 to drop into a tie for 29th. Defending champion Danny Lee carded a final round 69 to finish at 9-under in a tie for 9th as he looks to make his late push towards a Presidents Cup berth for the International Team. The New Zealander was in Nick Price’s team in Korea and needs further big results to force his way in or earn one of two captain’s picks. It was an impressive final-round showing by amateur Joaquin Niemann, who fired a final-round 6-under-par 64. His effort helped him jump from T67 to T29 in the final standings. Niemann, the world’s top-ranked amateur, is set to enter the University of South Florida. Smylie Kaufman (T36) extended his streak of consecutive holes without a three-putt to 276. Ryan Blaum’s final round 64 gave him a handful of personal milestones. The TOUR rookie notched up his lowest round and his best finish at T7 and now appears a relatively safe bet for a FedExCup Playoff berth after moving to 99th on the points list with just five weeks to go. BEST OF SOCIAL MEDIA

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