England’s Harry Hall missed out on claiming his first PGA Tour victory as Emiliano Grillo beat Adam Schenk in a play-off to win the Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club in Texas.
Argentina’s Grillo started the final round four shots behind third round leader Hall, while America’s Schenk was one stroke back. As Hall faltered, Grillo looked set to win, but double-bogeyed 18 when he drove into a stream, which carried his ball back towards him. But Grillo managed to regroup from that error and birdied the second play-off hole to see off Schenk. It is a second win on the PGA Tour for Grillo, who carded a closing two-under-par 68, but his first since 2015.
Hall, who opened up the week with a 10-under 62 and lead for the first three rounds, started the final day at Colonial brightly, carding back-to-back birdies on the first two holes, but bogeys at 5, 8, 16 and 15 saw his lead evaporate. The 25-year-old nevertheless found himself in a three-way tie at the top with Grillo and Schenk as he teed off on the final hole. However, as he attempted to claim his maiden PGA Tour title, he hit his tee shot into the water and made a closing bogey as he finished with a 73 to miss out on the play-off by a shot. Hall finished tied for third with Scottie Scheffler, who carded a closing 67.
Hall, who hails from Cornwall and came into the tournament ranked 197 in the world, but is now at 125, said: “I learned a lot today. I learned that you don’t always have to play great golf to win a tournament on a hard golf course coming down the stretch. You’ve just got to hit it in the middle of the green and not do anything stupid. Unfortunately, I did a couple of stupid things today and that cost me. I misread a couple of short putts on the front nine, then I made a bogey on 15 with a 9-iron in my hand. And then I guess I had a little bit of adrenalin on the last, and a firm bounce and I’m in the water. I didn’t even think the hazard was in play.”
He added: “While I’m obviously very disappointed, I’ve got another top 10 and I’ve earned 162 FedEx Cup points, and if you’d have given me that at the start of the week I’d have taken it.”
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Emiliano Grillo’s winning gear
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond (9°)
Fairway Wood: Callaway Rogue 3-wood (13.5°)
Hybrid: Callaway Apex (20°)
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB (4-9)
Wedges: Callaway MD3 Milled (46°), Callaway MD Forged (50°), Cobra Forged (54°, 60°)
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG Stroke Lab #5
Ball: Callaway Chrome Soft X