After a bogey on the 10th hole, Michael Brennan birdied the next two holes and parred his final six to win the Baycurrent Classic in Yokohama, Japan, by one shot.
It was Brennan’s second win of the season, and his third title in 33 starts. Brennan, who won the Wyndham Championship in August and last year’s Bank of Utah Championship, took home $1.44 million for his 16-under-par total.
“I was frustrated after 10, probably could have handled it a little bit better,” said Brennan, who failed to get up and down after missing the green from 118 yards, but then sank birdie putts of 17 feet on the 11th and 10 feet on 12. “Definitely should have hit a better chip, but making a really nice roll on 11 and 12 was huge. I felt like I putted pretty solid all week. I was struggling early in the week, just didn’t really have the feels with the putter, but then found it this weekend and putted nicely.”
A Solid Front-Runner
Brennan started the final day in a three-way tie for first at 13 under with Jacob Bridgeman and Zach Bauchou. He shot 3-under 68 Sunday to beat out Bridgeman (69) and Keith Mitchell (68) by a shot. Bauchou, who was seeking his first PGA Tour victory, closed with a 72 to finish tied for ninth.
Brennan is now 3-for-3 when holding the 54-hole lead/co-lead in individual stroke play events on Tour.
“I was really proud of the way that I felt, and maybe I didn’t have full control over how I felt but I was more calm today than I have been in weeks past when I’ve been in contention,” Brennan said. “I try to start the round and just try to treat it as best I could as any other normal round, and I felt like I did a really good job of that early.
“I was really kind of comfortable knowing I was tied for the lead. I think I only am able to do that and be like that because of the past experiences that I have had, not only the win at Wyndham but also the disappointing finishes in Minneapolis and Detroit. I just felt like I tried to learn a bit from all this.
“Even late in the round, yes, I was nervous, but maybe less so than some of the other tournaments that I had been closing recently. And I think that’s progress. I know I still have a ways to go before I feel how I think I would like to feel coming down the stretch.”
Brennan’s steady play over his final six holes was more than good enough to secure the win. His best par save came on the par-3 16th when his long shot from the back left bunker finished 10 inches from the cup.
Leading Bridgeman by one on the final hole, Brennan unleashed a 334-yard drive that left him 108 yards to the par-4 hole. After hitting his approach to 14 feet, he easily two-putted for the title.
Close Calls for Bridgeman, Mitchell
Bridgeman, who has won twice this season, missed a chance to pull even on the par-4 17th when his 10-foot birdie putt slid by the cup. On the par-4 18th, he had a 57-foot birdie putt over a large ridge that he rolled 4 feet wide, which he made for a closing par.
“I was in defensive mode a lot,” Bridgeman said. “I feel like I just kind of grinded my way to the end there. Was able to make some putts at important times that I needed. That one on 17’s going to sting a little bit.”
Mitchell was two strokes ahead after a five-hole stretch on the front nine, 5 under with three birdies and an eagle. He played the final 10 in 2 over.
“The back nine plays a lot harder than the front,” Mitchell said. “Gave myself some good looks on the final three holes and unfortunately didn’t convert them.”
Defending champion Xander Schauffele made a strong run to repeat on the final day. At six under par going to No. 18, Schauffele hit his tee shot into the trees and finished with a double bogey to tie for fourth, three shots behind Brennan.
“I hit a lot of really good shots,” Schauffele said. “I definitely played good enough golf to win this tournament.”
Brennan led the tournament in driving accuracy, hitting 55 of 60 fairways over four days, including 15 of 15 in both the second and final rounds.
Next up is the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, Oct. 22-25, at Port Royal Golf Course. Adam Schenk is the defending champion.
