Sports. Honestly. Since 2011

J.B. Holmes Holds Off Marathon Field at Genesis Open

After a rain soaked Thursday and Friday put the field at the 2019 Genesis Open on its heels early, J.B. Holmes outlasted some of the game’s top contenders come Sunday. Holmes joined Justin Thomas for the marathon finish over the weekend of over 60 holes. Despite leading the majority of Saturday and Sunday, Thomas’ final round of 4-over dropped him just one shot off the championship at the end of 72 holes.

With a tournament total of 14-under, following a 1-under final round, Holmes took home his first PGA win since 2015’s Shell Houston Open. Elsewhere on the course perennial contenders Rory McIlroy (-11), Adam Scott (-8) and Tiger Woods (-6) were just some of the competitors to make a run toward the top Sunday before falling just short. With so much golf packed into one Sunday, the field at the Riviera Country Club provided a number of highlights to close out the 2019 Genesis Open.

Holmes has his way with Riviera

With Justin Thomas gaining steam right behind him, Holmes needed this all important par save on 16.

Holmes’ concentration on the greens, including this breaking putt at the 3rd hole, helped propel him to his first Tour title in nearly four years.

Late in his third round Holmes put his foot on the gas dialing in his tee shot at the par-3 16th leading to a birdie and a share of second.

The winning putt on 18 to defeat Thomas by one stroke at the 2019 Genesis Open.

Thomas stumbles down the stretch

Justin Thomas entered the final round with a four-stroke lead but struggled to a 4-over par over the last 18 holes of play. Despite not being able to close out the Genesis Open he still provided plenty of memorable moments including an emphatic birdie at 16 to get to within one stroke with two holes to play.

In what may have been a foreboding omen for the final round, Thomas hit a rarely seen shank at the par-4 9th before scrambling back for par.

During his dominant third round Sunday, Thomas was clearly in control early on including a near hole in one at the par-3 6th hole.

Contenders come close but fall short at Riviera

In what can be best described as a roller coaster weekend for Tiger Woods (T15) saw a wide array of birdies, eagles and more than a couple bogeys in between. The up and down play didn’t stop Woods from making highlights of his own including his bunker hole out at 16.

The par-3 16th provided a number of highlights Sunday as Rory McIlroy made a strong push up the leaderboard including a birdie from the bunker before finishing T4 at 11-under.

Adam Scott ended tied for 7th but kept in stride a top the leaderboard for most of Sunday thanks to birdie putts like he had at the par-4 5th.

The Best of the Rest

Quietly climbing up the leaderboard for most of the Genesis Open, Australian Marc Leishman (T4) turned up to the volume from 80 feet away for eagle at the par-5 11th.

He may have finished 11 strokes off the lead but Kyle Jones (T33) turned in some magic moments of his own with an eagle at the par-5 opening hole.

Si Woo Kim shot a 5-under final round to finish in third place but almost picked up another stroke on 11 with a near eagle from off the other side of the green.

Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images

Post Views: 12

Share:

More Posts

Send Us A Message