Tiger can’t cut it at U.S. Open, finishes 10 over

Utilizing some critical putts late in the round, Dustin Johnson finally won the FedEx Cup Monday, outlasting Justin Thomas and Xander Schauffele in the Tour Championship.

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The PGA TOUR shares in mourning the passing of Dave Anderson, whose distinguished journalistic career included coverage of many of golf’s greatest moments for more than half a century. Following are comments by PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and former Commissioners Deane Beman and Tim Finchem: Jay Monahan: “No one treated golf and golfers with more respect than Dave Anderson. Likely, because he himself personified elegance and dignity that matched the qualities that are the fabric of our game.� Tim Finchem: “I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dave Anderson, an incredibly talented journalist who was a fixture for decades at golf’s biggest events. Dave was always extremely thoughtful and fair in what he wrote and was highly respected by players and golf’s leadership alike. “We are truly fortunate that he had a genuine affinity for golf and that he educated and entertained his loyal readership about our sport. “Dave will be greatly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him and his countless fans.� Deane Beman: “Dave Anderson is one of the scribes that I believe had enormous respect from everyone for what he wrote. He cared about golf, and certainly cared about the golfers. “I remember as if it was yesterday I was having breakfast with Dave and Sam Snead in New York and we were there talking about the book, The History of the PGA TOUR. Dave, in a very clever half-joking, but half-serious way, asked Sam whether Hogan was as good as everyone thought he was. This was after Hogan had passed away. Back when Ben was winning his majors, they played 36 holes on the final day, and Dave asked Sam whether it was true that he hit it so straight, that he had to hit the ball out of his own divot in the final round. Sam waved his finger and said, ‘If he was that good, don’t you think he could have hit it a bit to the right or a bit to the left?’ It was a very clever setup by Dave. He was just a very special guy and a special writer in the world of golf.�

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PLAYA DEL CARMEN, Mexico — Viktor Hovland of Norway holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Sunday for a 6-under 65 and a one-shot victory in the Mayakoba Golf Classic presented by UNIFIN, his second PGA TOUR victory this year. RELATED: Final leaderboard | Winner’s Bag: Viktor Hovland It was the first time since the Mayakoba Classic began in 2007 that it was won with a birdie putt on the final hole. For the 23-year-old Hovland, it’s old hat. He made a 30-foot birdie putt on the last hole to win the Puerto Rico Open in February. Aaron Wise closed with a 63 and did everything right over the last two holes except make the birdie putts. Tied for the lead, he missed birdie putts from 12 feet on each of the last two holes at El Camaleon Golf Club. Hovland had four birdies in the opening six holes and built a two-shot lead going into the back nine on a course softened by rain that caused a two-hour delay in the morning. But he made bogey on the 12th hole, and that seemed to create chances for a half-dozen players separated by one shot along the back nine. Hovland responded with birdies on the next two holes, and he appeared to be in control with a tee shot to 4 feet on the par-3 15th. But he hit a tentative putt to remain tied with Wise, and Hovland thought he was in big trouble when his long iron on the 515-yard 16th hole sailed hard to the right toward the mangrove trees. It came down in the waste area a few feet from the hazard, and he hit a splendid sand shot to 4 feet to save par. Hovland, starting his second season on the PGA TOUR after a stellar college career at Oklahoma State, finished at 20-under 264 and moved to No. 15 in the world. That makes three players in the top 15 who were still in college a year ago in May. The others are PGA champion Collin Morikawa and Matthew Wolff, a teammate of Hovland’s at Oklahoma State. Adam Long (67) and Tom Hoge (69) tied for third at 17-under 267. Hoge holed a 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the 15th hole to get within one shot, but he three-putted from some 70 feet on the tough 16th to fall back. Long lost hope when he sent his tee shot into the vegetation on the 17th hole and took bogey. Emiliano Grillo, who led after the second and third rounds, closed with a 72 and tied for eighth, five shots behind. Justin Thomas got back to the fringe of contention with a 62 on Saturday but followed that with a 69, making double bogey on No. 10 to end his chances. This was the final official PGA TOUR event of the year, one last chance for players to either qualify for the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua or lock up a spot in the Masters next year. Neither was an issue for Hovland, who qualified for Maui with his win in Puerto Rico and was set for Augusta National by reaching the TOUR Championship his rookie season. Austin Eckroat of Oklahoma State had a 67-65 weekend and tied for 12th.

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