After four days of diverse conditions and a course filled with over 100 years of history and challenges, Austrian Sepp Straka took home the Truist Championship yesterday at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown. This is Straka’s second victory on tour this season, a feat only world number one Rory McIlroy has accomplished this season.
Straka held off his final round partner, Shane Lowery, who faded down the stretch shooting even par for the last round, and Justin Thomas who was surging towards the lead going into the back nine of the final day. Other golfers, including Patrick Cantlay, Tommy Fleetwood and Jacob Bridgeman shot impressive rounds of 5 under, however their deficit going into the final round was too great to overcome the consistent play of Straka.
The tournament offered four days of unique challenges and was an example of how a lead on day one is never a guarantee of victory on day four. Only Straka could maintain a position in the top 4 throughout the tournament. Thursday gave the golfers ideal conditions and scoring reflected this with Keith Mitchell leading the way with a 61, nine under for the round. However, the weather and course changed dramatically on Friday with rain, wind and temperatures dropping almost 20 degrees. On Friday scoring was at a premium and many of Friday’s leaders faded.
Saturday brought winds and difficult pin placements. Any chance that the rain would soften the greens and make putting easier was dispelled quickly as early round players struggled to shoot low. 23 players shot 65 or better on Thursday compared to only 2 on Saturday. Pin placements were also moved to difficult spots revealing the brilliance of A.W. Tillinghast who designed the course in 1922. Keith Mitchell, who was the leader after 2 days, faded back to 4th by the end of Saturday’s round.
Sunday brought warmer weather but there were still slight winds, and the greens firmed up even more by the afternoon. Any chance of late round moves was thwarted by a course with one of the most difficult back nines on the tour this year. Justin Thomas was cruising towards a possible 65 for the day but missed a 5-footer on the par 5 on hole 15, and then another short putt on 16 that gave him a bogey and took him out of contention.
With Thomas in the clubhouse at 14 under, it was down to Lowery and Straka on the final three holes. Lowery chipped out of the heavy rough on the par 3 16th but failed to convert a 6-foot par putt. One off the lead going into the 18th hole, Lowery needed a birdie to catch Straka. Lowery was in position to do this with an approach shot out of the rough within 22 feet and a chance to tie with a birdie. Straka was over 50 feet out but putt to within 3 feet for the par. Lowery, needing the birdie, made an aggressive attempt but missed and he finished with a 3 putt for the hole to finish tied for 2nd with Thomas.
Other than Straka, the real winner was Philadelphia golf and the fans of golf in Philadelphia. Despite Mother’s Day contending with the final round, the crowds were plentiful, and the course showed why Philadelphia is blessed with the best courses in the country. This was something pointed out numerous times on the CBS broadcast. Things will only get better next spring as the PGA Championship comes to Aronimink Golf Club in Drexel Hill, which hosted the U.S. Open in 1977 and the PGA Championship in 1962.
