Austrian golfer Sepp Straka secured his second PGA Tour victory at the John Deere Classic on Sunday, delivering a stunning final round performance. His 9-under 62, despite a double bogey on the last hole, was enough to secure a two-shot win over Brendon Todd and Alex Smalley.
Straka's victory propelled him to 27th in the world rankings and significantly boosted his chances of representing Europe in the upcoming Ryder Cup. His journey to the title included a challenging first round of 73, followed by impressive scores of 63, 65, and the final round 62.
Straka's exceptional performance in the final round began with a birdie-eagle start, followed by four more birdies on the front nine. A string of four consecutive birdies on the back nine put him within reach of a remarkable 59. However, a double bogey on the 18th hole dashed those hopes.
Despite the final hole setback, Straka's 21-under-par total held up as Todd and Smalley were unable to close the gap. Todd came closest with a birdie on the 14th, reaching 20-under, but a bogey on the 16th and a par on the 17th halted his progress. Smalley, also needing a strong finish, couldn't convert birdie opportunities on the final holes.
Ludvig Aberg, a rising star from Sweden, finished tied for fourth with a final round 63. Cameron Young, the highest-ranked player in the field, concluded the tournament at 16-under.
