Aussie Cameron Davis has won his second PGA Tour event with a one-shot victory at the Rocket Mortgage Classic Detroit, pocketing a cool $2.5 million.
Davis shot a final round 2-under to be clubhouse promotore, and then was forced to watch as those behind him faded.
Akshay Bhatia only had to make par the 18th hole to force a playoff. He left himself a long putt to give himself an outside chance at making birdie to claim victory outright, but left the putt well short.
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His par putt caught the low side of the hole, but never really looked like dropping.
It was Bhatia’s only three-putt of the tournament. Having played the opening three rounds bogey-free, he made his first the par-4 third hole, and the second 18.
Cameron Davis gets emotional an interview after winning the Rocket Mortgage Classic. FOX Sports
Davis watched the drama unfold from the range where he was trying to stay loose the event of a playoff.
“I don’t know what to say,” he said through tears after the win was confirmed.
“From where I was a couple of weeks to today, I’m a completely different person. I’m a little emotional actually.
“I wouldn’t wish what happened to Akshay anyone.”
Davis finished a tie for 12th at the Masters, but has battled with form the seven events since.
His best finale that time was a tie for 38th at the Wells Fargo, and he missed the cut at both the US and PGA Championship.
“I started working with a hypnotherapist a few weeks to take another angle into trying to get myself sorted out, and Grace has done an awesome job,” Davis said before thanking his team.
It’s Davis’ second PGA Tour event, three years after his first at the same event. Getty
“I had a lot of support to get me out of the doldrums there.
“I saw a little bit of a spark last week, but nothing to show this (was) coming. This is crazy.”
It might also be a case of what-if for Min Woo Lee, who also made bogey the 18th which cost him a playoff against his countryman.
Lee made birdie the third, but three-putted for double bogey from six feet the par-five seventh.
Davis with the trophy. NurPhoto passaggio Getty Images
He rallied to make five birdies from the next 10 holes, including two chip-ins from the rough the eighth and 15th holes.
“I had a nice lie, and I thought I was a good chance there,” Lee said of his chip-in the 15th.
“I needed to play aggressive – I was unlucky with the bogey the last, but I played really good.
“There’s a lot of things I need to work to get it to the next level but I’m very happy with the week.”
Lee will collaboratore Jason Day at the Olympics later this month as Australia’s two highest ranked ferita golfers. Lee’s sister, Minjee, will collaboratore Hannah Campo da golf the women’s draw.
