Open champion became the third American to claim the trophy at the DP World Tour's flagship event, joining Billy Horschel and Arnold Palmer, as he fended off a ferocious pack of European players Sunday at Wentworth. Spaun played his final five holes in 4 under to post the clubhouse lead at 17 under. In doing so, he usurped the advantage that was possessed by Rory McIlroy, Aaron Rai and Adam Scott, all of whom sat at 15 under.
That is the same number Manuel Elvira had on his scorecard with two holes to play. The Spaniard played the 71st hole to absolute perfection as he rolled in an eagle-3 to draw square with Spaun, who was already in the clubhouse. However, as easy as the par-5 17th came to him, the par-5 18th did not.
After taking an iron off the tee and finding the fairway, Elvira made the peculiar decision to lay up and did so by striking his second into a fairway bunker. Manuel Elvira, currently one shot off the lead, sets up eagle on 17 with a stunning approach! #BMWPGA | #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/PRG55uwKOU From there, he played his third long of the green, received free relief from the grandstands and dumped his fourth into the greenside bunker. He ultimately made a double-bogey 7 to boot away a chance at claiming the biggest title of his career and fall into a share of second-place with those mentioned at 15 under.
"Devastating that I hit the wrong shot at the right time on the layup and left myself the toughest shot in the fairway bunker and wasn't able to pull it off," Elvira said. Spaun noted that the win came courtesy of "a huge chip" on his shoulder. After withdrawing from the Tour Championship due to discomfort in, coincidentally, his shoulder, the Ryder Cup participant was passed over for the U.S.
Presidents Cup team by captain Brandt Snedeker. The victory represents Spaun's second of the year -- all in his last 16 worldwide starts. "I played with a huge chip on my shoulder," Spaun said.
"I definitely had something to prove this week, but everything happens for a reason. I'm so delighted to be here and just even play this event. I've always wanted to play for the longest of times.
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