SILVIS, Illinois – Brian Campbell won his second playoffs this year on the PGA Tour.
We have extended Campbell’s winning season, winning the Mexico Open in the playoffs in late February. He finished from the top 30 per tournament, with the exception of two victories.
This may be enough to lead him to an open championship, depending on how high he is in the world rankings released Monday, and is traditionally used as an alternative list.
Campbell appeared to be in control of the tournament. There were three birdies on a four-hole stretch to start the back nine. However, he returned to the tree on the 15th with a double bogey, which was a wild scramble to the finish.
Grillo, who closed with 67 people, took the lead when Campbell made a double bogey.
One of the short hitters on the tour, Campbell blasted three trees from 18 feet for a two-putt birdie on the par 5 17th, narrowly missing a 25 feet birdie on the 18th. He was the first player to post on 18 under 266.
Grillo went up and down for a birdie on the 17th, stopped an 8-foot putt and took a bad break on the 18th as the drive settled into Divot. He hit the wedge within just 40 feet and Par putts to join Campbell at 266.
David Lipski was poised to join them to get the lead by hitting a punch 3-wood 8 feet for the Eagle on the 17th. However, he hooked the drive on the 18th, unable to reach the green, and a 15-foot putt caught and spinned his left lip to enter the playoffs. He shot 68, tied him third with Kevin Roy (65).
There was no real drama in the playoffs. Campbell hit a beautiful trap draw about 15 feet on the 18th. Grillo took a break as he sat in the rough stomped and was sent long over the greenery. His flopshot never reached the putting surface. His attempt at about 25 feet had no chance.
“I got there. I gave myself a chance,” Grillo said. “I’ve made some good putts. I’d hit the 72nd best putt. That’s all I can do.”
Campbell has joined Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Sepp Straka and Ryan Fox this year, with multiple individual tournament victories on the PGA Tour.
He finished about 30 minutes before the final group, but Campbell chose to stay in the clubhouse and see if his score would improve, rather than relaxing in the training range. He said it was better to cool down and rest, and he never discussed the outcome.
Winning for over two years, Max Homa ran off three straight birdies early in the round and led easily. He played the final 14 holes in one and lost the keypad to stay in the game, tied him for fifth place with 69. He was in his first top ten on the PGA Tour for nearly 15 months.
The other five tied together, including 47-year-old Matt Kucher, who was closed with 66, and Lucas Glover, who shot a 64.