"The Starter" recaps the week gone by in golf. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights for RG. In this installment: Echavarria's ZOZO win; all-Korean play-off at Genesis; ersing star Yin wins Maybank.
Nico Echavarria's Win at the ZOZO Championship: A Triumph for Colombian Golf
Sunday's final round of the ZOZO Championship culminated in a momentous victory for Colombian Nico Echavarria, his second triumph on the PGA TOUR. The event, set against the stunning yet formidable backdrop of the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club in Japan, showcased Echavarria's consistent and impressive performance, with rounds of 64-64-65-67 leading him to claim the coveted trophy.
The final round attracted considerable attention, featuring solid performances from a handful of noteworthy players, including Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler. While Echavarria certainly didn't win this week based solely on his opening 36 holes, his two consecutive 6-under par 64s on Thursday and Friday were, without question, a significant catalyst to his victory. With runner-up Justin Thomas hot on his heels, Echavarria's weekend play, with rounds of 65-67, was enough to secure his one-stroke win over the hard-charging Thomas.
This win at the ZOZO holds special significance for Echavarria, enhancing his status among the world's best players. Not only did this win secure him valuable ranking points, jumping him up 48 spots in the standings to the 65th spot, but it also significantly moved his place within the OWGR, where he now stands just outside the top 100 at the 102nd spot.
American Justin Thomas entered the ZOZO Championship with a hunger for victory. This hunger has only grown stronger in the face of his well-documented struggles with his game over the past couple of years. Despite these challenges, Thomas has shown glimpses of his past form throughout 2024, and this week's performance was a shining example of his resilience. His tie for second with Max Greysermaa, at 19-under par, was his best finish since The American Express in January when he tied for third.
“It’s a mixture of obviously bummed and disappointed, but I played so well,” Thomas said post-final round. “I played plenty well enough to win the tournament … I gave myself a chance.”
Since 2015, Thomas has won 15 times, including two PGA Championships and a PLAYERS. There is little doubt that the former World Number 1 will return to his rightful place in the top ten in the OWGR. Thomas moved from 33rd to 24th with his tie for second this week.
Echavarria's triumph this week not only brought him personal glory but also shone a bright light on Colombian sports. His success serves as a powerful testament to his role as a golf ambassador in his homeland, instilling a sense of national pride among his fellow Colombians.
Two of Echavarria's biggest fans, his mother and father, were watching from home in Colombia, and like the good son he is, Nico called them immediately after his victory.
“They stayed up all night watching the golf, and I'm glad they did,” Echavarria said. “Very happy and emotional just being able to talk to them because my parents are the reason I play this beautiful sport.”
An Triumphs on Home Soil Against Fellow Countryman Tom Kim
The Genesis Championship concluded with a thrilling Sunday, with Byeong Hun An emerging victorious over his fellow countryman, Tom Kim, after an intense play-off. The Sunday showdown at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club featured an exciting back nine, with as many as six players vying for the lead throughout the day.
Initially, Kim seemed poised to clinch the title with a one-shot lead as they neared the final holes. However, An responded decisively, sinking a clutch birdie putt to draw level with Kim at 17-under par on the final hole of regulation. This set the stage for an all-Korean play-off, where both players made their own calculated risks on the replayed of the par-five 18th. A risky shot ultimately left Kim in a problematic position, allowing An to capitalize on the opportunity and claim his second DP World Tour title, his first since 2015.
An expressed his delight over the victory, highlighting how special it was to win on home soil after a long stretch without a main tour title.
"It's great; obviously, I've had a great season; it's been too long (to win) on the main Tour. All I tried to do was show some great golf in front of the home fans; it's been a while since I've played in front of them. It feels amazing. It's a bit of a shame that Tom had a bit of a mess there, but it's been a great tournament for me; I've really enjoyed it."
Sunday's Genesis Championship win was An's first victory on the DP World Tour since his 2015 BMW PGA Championship triumph. He now finds himself ranked 27th in the OWGR.
Throughout the weekend, several contenders, including Ricardo Gouveia, Francesco Laporta, and Antoine Rozner, delivered commendable performances and climbed within striking distance. However, it was An's calm composure and decisive performance under pressure during the play-off that ultimately secured his memorable victory.
Rising Star Ruoning Yin Claims Victory at the 2024 Maybank Championship
The 2024 Maybank Championship concluded with Ruoning Yin, a rising star in women's golf, winning her second LPGA title in three tournaments at Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. Ruoning Yin, a 22-year-old from China, delivered an impressive performance throughout the week with rounds of 67-67-66-65.
Heading into the final round, Yin appeared calm and focused. After going out in 4-under par 32, she added birdies at the tenth and twelfth holes. Her birdie on the par five 18th hole was pivotal and secured the one-stroke win over Jeeno Thitikul.
Throughout the tournament, Yin displayed great ball striking, particularly with her irons, where she hit an impressive 79% of her greens, including 17 of 18 on Sunday. After going out in 1-over par 37 in the first round, with two bogey's offset by a lone birdie, Yin may have had her doubts about the direction her week was going to go. She quickly bounced back in that Thursday round, making a stretch of five consecutive birdies on holes 11-15 and a final one on the 18th for an opening round 67. Yin would not make another bogey all week after those two early on Thursday.
After her win, Yin talked about her final round and an important reminder she got from her caddie down the stretch.
“I had a really good start on the front nine and kind of just like yesterday, slow down a little bit after 12. I have a lot of birdie chances on 14, 15, and 16, even 17. So when I missed on 16 green, David, my caddie, told me, you're doing good. Just be patient. Putts will drop. So I'm really happy that I stayed patient.”
Yin’s victory at the 2024 Maybank Championship underlines her growing prominence in the sport. In just her third season on the LPGA Tour, she has now claimed five victories. For the 2024 season, she sits fifth in the Race For The CME Globe and is fourth in the Rolex Rankings.
With her win at the Maybank, the 22-year-old Yin is just another example of a shift towards a new generation of talents making their mark on the LPGA Tour.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
