Emiliano Grillo wins Colonial in a playoff, Steve Stricker wins the second senior major at the PGA

In an enthralling duel on the greens of Fort Worth, Texas, Emiliano Grillo gloriously redeemed himself after a significant misstep, clinching Argentina’s first PGA Tour victory in over seven years. Following a double bogey on the final hole, Grillo triumphed on the second playoff round by sinking a decisive 5-foot birdie putt, thereby outmaneuvering his competitor, Adam Schenk, in the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge.

Grillo initially seemed poised for victory with a promising two-shot lead on the 18th at the Colonial. However, a disastrous tee shot that ended up in a culvert and subsequently plummeted around 150 yards into shallow water put a dent in his fortunes. Despite this setback, he recovered from a penalizing bad chip and double bogey to finish with an impressive 68.

Schenk’s attempt at clinching the title fell short as a 20-foot birdie putt veered off course, culminating in a score of 72. Another contender, Harry Hall, veered off the field on the 18th, bogeying for a 73 and missing the playoffs by a hair’s breadth. Scottie Scheffler, who aced on the par-3 eighth, shared a similar fate.

Grillo’s triumphant outing, reminiscent of his previous victory at the Frys.com Open in Napa, California in October 2015, catapults him into the world’s top 60 within a fortnight. Schenk, the Indiana native, finished runner-up for the second time this season.

Meanwhile, in Frisco, Texas, seasoned golfer Steve Stricker took the honors at the Senior PGA Championship, defeating Padraig Harrington in a playoff round on the first hole. This marked Stricker’s second major senior victory this year.

Stricker concluded with a 3-under 69, while Harrington finished with 70, his birdie on the par-5 18th forcing a playoff between the two bottom Ryder Cup captains. The playoff took a turn for the worse for Harrington as his drive veered into the thick grass right of the fairway. Despite his valiant attempts, he couldn’t retrieve his position and fell short on the par putt, resulting in a premature conclusion to the playoff.

Stricker’s latest victory, following a successful run at the Regions Tradition, secures him a spot in next year’s PGA Championship at Valhalla. With this triumph, he now boasts of six majors among his 14 PGA Tour Champions wins.

Stewart Cink rounded off his senior debut with a stunning birdie-eagle, finishing with a commendable 69, a mere two shots behind.

Significantly, this tournament marked the debut of the Fields Ranch East, the new PGA of America headquarters, as a major event venue. The Frisco location, situated roughly 35 miles north of Dallas, is slated to host the PGA Championship in 2027 and 2034, marking a new era in the history of this prestigious competition.