Xander Schauffele shot a final-round 68 and then beat Tony Finau on the first playoff hole to capture the WGC-HSBC Champions title.
Schauffele finished his final day in Shanghai with two bogeys offset by six birdies, highlighted by two-straight gains on Nos. 17 and 18 to reach 14 under.
Finau, who was playing one group behind Schauffele – in the day’s final pairing, also made birdie on the final hole, forcing a playoff with his American rival. In overtime, after Finau caught a bad break, landing his approach in a bunker en route to a par on No. 18, Shauffele again made birdie to capture his third PGA Tour title, and first since winning the Tour Championship in 2017.
PRO-FILE
Full Name: Xander Schauffele
Nationality American
Height: 5′ 10″
Weight: 170 lb
Birthdate: October 25 (age 25)
Native: San Diego, California
Residence: San Diego State
College: San Diego, California
Sponsor: Adidas
FINAL SCORES
1 Xander Schauffele –14 (66-71-69-68)
2 Tony Finau –14 (66-67-70-71)
3 Justin Rose –10 (69-67-70-72)
4 Andrew Putnam –8 (70-71-67-72)
4 Kiradech Aphibarnrat –8 (68-71-70-71)
WINNER’S STATS
Fairways: 25% (77th)
Greens: 47.2% (T66)
Putts/GIR: 1.588 (4th)
Scores: 21 Birdies, 45 Pars, 5 Bogeys, 1 Double
VIDEO: SCHAUFFELE’S FINAL-ROUND HIGHLIGHTS
Credit: PGA TOUR
2019 SEASON
Starts: 3
Cuts Made: 3
Wins: 1 (WGC-HSBC Champions)
Earnings/Ranking: $1,782,150/1st
FedExCup Points/Ranking: 594/1st
CAREER VICTORIES
PGA Tour: 3
2018 WGC-HSBC Champions
2017 Tour Championship
2017 Greenbrier Classic
MONEY & PLAYOFF POINTS
With his win, Schauffele earned $1,700,000 and 550 FedExCup points to move to 1st place in both money and points.
WORLD RANKING
Schauffele received 66 OWGR points, and is projected to land somewhere between 13 and 11 in the new world rankings. His previous highest was 17.
EXIT QUESTION
Question: Talking about your relationship with Tony Finau, having gone through a very fierce competition for the last spot in the Ryder Cup, and now getting back in the WGC-HSBC Champions here, does that mean something for you or something between you two?
XANDER SCHAUFFELE: No, not at all. Like I said before, Tony, we’re good friends. I would say he’s one of the guys I’m closer to out here. I always say he’s one of the nicest guys I know on Tour.
There’s no rivalry or anything. You know, everyone just tries to beat everybody. It’s not a big deal. You know, The Ryder Cup thing, he just played better than I did. He deserved his spot and he beat me straight-up, and everyone else who was looking for the position.
So no, there’s nothing there.
Credits: Getty Images, PGA Tour Media
