Final Round Recap
HARTFORD, Conn., June 25, 2017 – Jordan Spieth became just the second player in the PGA TOUR’s modern era with 10 TOUR victories before turning 24 by winning the 2017 Travelers Championship on Sunday. Spieth shot a final-round 70, but was forced into a playoff with Daniel Berger. The 23-year-old Dallas resident ended it in dramatic fashion, holing out for birdie from a greenside bunker on the first extra hole at TPC River Highlands.
This was Spieth’s Travelers Championship debut, making him the fourth player in tournament history to win this Connecticut event in his first appearance. The others: Ted Kroll in 1952, Sam Snead in 1955 and Phil Blackmar in 1985.
Thousands of fans came out to TPC River Highlands, capping a remarkable attendance week, to see which golfer would be crowned the 2017 champion. Skies were blue as play began at 8:15 a.m.
Spieth held the outright lead after each of the first three rounds, but was caught on Sunday when Berger – who shot a final-round 67 – pulled even. A birdie by Berger at No. 15 and a Spieth bogey at the 14th hole produced a tie at 11-under-par. A birdie by Spieth at the 15th hole was matched by a Berger birdie at No. 17, creating another tie at 12-under-par. After both players made par at the 18th, it meant the fifth Travelers Championship playoff since 2007, when Travelers became title sponsor.
Spieth joins Tiger Woods as the only players since World War II with at least 10 TOUR wins before the age of 24.
The tournament’s Closing Ceremony took place on the 18th green and was emceed by Chris Berman, the ESPN broadcaster and longtime friend of the tournament.
Spieth isn’t the only winner this year, though. More than 160 charities will benefit from the more than $1.6 million generated from the 2017 Travelers Championship, including The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp, the tournament’s primary beneficiary.
