It was no secret for whom the gallery was cheering. Texan Jordan Spieth was in the lead at the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
And this was lining up to be one to remember. In the end, it was. But for another reason.
Spieth struggled with a 3-over 73 and Jason Kokrak pounced with an even-par 70 to claim a two-shot win on a dramatic Sunday in the Lone Star State.
“They were definitely rooting for the guy next to me,” Kokrak, 36, said with a smile. “I grinded it out and finished it out.”
It was Kokrak’s second win in his last 17 starts, and he joined Stewart Cink and Bryson DeChambeau as the only players to win twice on TOUR this season.
Kokrak’s first win – and his first on TOUR – came in October of 2020 at THE CJ CUP @ SHADOW CREEK when he beat Xander Schauffele by two shots.
Kokrak’s win on Sunday earned him a nice jump in the FedExCup standings, moving up 22 spots to No. 5.
Main image: Jason Kokrak wins the Charles Schwab Challenge for his second PGA TOUR title. (Getty Images)
MOVING ON TO MUIRFIELD VILLAGE
A stout field led by the top five in the FedExCup standings will all head to Jack Nicklaus’ renovated Muirfield Village for the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide.
Jon Rahm, whose victory pushed the young Spaniard to the top of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time, is back to defend. Bryson DeChambeau, who leads the FedExCup and won the 2018 Memorial, will be teeing it up as well.
Other past winners at Jack’s place who will be in the field include Patrick Cantlay, Jason Dufner and William McGirt (who won for the first time on the PGA TOUR after 165 starts in 2016).
Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy, a pair of past FedExCup and PLAYERS champions, head to Muirfield Village looking for their first titles at the Memorial.
Preparations for this year’s event started during the final round last year as turf was being lifted with the leaders still on the back nine. Muirfield Village went through a full renovation with changes including irrigation work, rebuilt fairway and greenside bunkers and reconstruction of the greens.
More than 140 trees were added in various spots and the course can play up to 100 yards longer now.
Rahm is looking to become the first man to defend his title at the Memorial since Tiger Woods in 2001. Despite shooting 75 in the final round, Rahm captured the Memorial in 2020 and in the process reached No. 1 in the world.
The winner will pocket 550 FedExCup points.
TIGER TALKS PAINFUL REHAB
Tiger Woods spoke for the first time last week about his rehabilitation process but did not give an update on when he feels he can return to golf. “My physical therapy has been keeping me busy,” Woods told Golf Digest.
“I do my routines every day and am focused on my No. 1 goal right now: walking on my own. Taking it one step at a time.”
Woods suffered major leg trauma in a single-car crash in February. The 82-time PGA TOUR winner and two-time FedExCup champion has undergone five back surgeries and multiple left knee surgeries in the past and is no stranger to rehabilitation procedures.
