GRAND BLANC, Mich. (AP) – Jim Furyk turned 50 when golf closed and deserved when the PGA Tour champions returned, completing a 4-low 68 to win the Ally Challenge on Sunday when Brett Quigley made bogeys on his final two holes.
Furyk, the first player since Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2014 to win in his start on the circuit for more than 50 years.
“I’m the 19th person to come out and win their first event on the PGA Tour Champions,” Furyk said. “It sounds so ordinary when you say it that way. Wow, I’m amazed. It felt pretty darn hard to do.”
The victory came at a familiar place. Warwick Hills was one of his favorite stops on the PGA Tour when it hosted the Buick Open until a decade ago. Furyk won there in 2003 and was a runner-up two other times. It was his first victory since the RBC Heritage in 2015.
“I think the only thing I’ve missed all week is the enthusiasts,” Furyk said. “This position would be: it is a small and narrow property, and would bring together many enthusiasts from the Flint area, Grand Blanc. We’ll miss 17, but in the long run we’ll see.” and I can’t wait to come back and see him firsthand.”
Furyk, a former US Open champion with 17 PGA Tour titles, is barely out competitively. He has played five times on the PGA Tour in the last two months, making three cups.
“I’m excited to be able to come here the first week, play so well and get a win,” Furyk said. “It’s an honor. Lots of smart players on the field. I like to go back to Warwick Hills, a place where I’ve had a lot of smart fortune in my career, a golf course I enjoy. I feel like I know him well.
He took the last circular with a shot to the head, and when Carlos Franco wasted an eagle began at the end of his first nine, and Tommy Armor III fainted early, Furyk and Quigley.
Quigley made a birdie in the 16th par 5 to tie the lead, only to catch the left lip in a 17th overall putt to give Furyk control. He fired a shot on the 18th for a 1 bass 71 and tied for a moment with two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen, who finished with a 66.
“Overall fantastic, ” said Quigley. I mean, earlier this week, give me a chance to win in the last few holes, absolutely. That we’re playing golf again, great. I mean, there’s definitely a lot smarter than learning from it, despite completing bogey, bogey. “
Furyk finished with 14 under-202s and is now heading to San Francisco for the PGA Championship. He earned a place by remaining in the 100th most sensible in the world.
Chris DiMarco had a 65 and tied for fourth with Rod Pampling (68) and Wes Short Jr. (69).
Franco shared the initial lead with his eagle in the par-5 opening hole, to close the back with a double bogey in the seventh par-5 and two bogeys. He made only one birdie the rest of the way for a 73. Armor, who entered the tournament as a substitute, started the last circular shot and did not make a birdie until the tenth hole. He fired 75.
Furyk has made a bogey in the last two rounds.
The start of the last circular is delayed by 3 hours and a half hours due to rain. For Furyk, value the wait.
Two players who turned 50 when the COVID-19 pandemic ended also made their debut this week. Former Masters champion Mike Weir and K.J. Choi tied in the 27th.