Cantlay Defeats DeChambeau in Epic 6-Hole Playoff to Win 2021 BMW Championship

 

Patrick Cantlay Defeats Bryson DeChambeau in Epic 6-Hole Playoff to Win 2021 BMW Championship 

(image: Darron Cummings/AP)

 

It was a final round for the history books this year at Caves Valley Golf Club, but at the end of it, Patrick Cantlay emerged victorious. The Long Beach native defeated Bryson DeChambeau in an epic six hole playoff to capture his fifth career PGA Tour win and third this season. The two finished their final rounds at 27-under par and three shots clear of Sungjae Im, a new tournament record.

 

With this win, Cantlay rises to 1st place in the FedEx Cup Rankings, with a clear (and numerical) advantage heading into the Tour Championship. He also clinches the final spot on the US Ryder Cup team and receives a cheque for $1.7 million.

 

 

TENSIONS RISE AT THE 14TH HOLE

Cantlay and DeChambeau were neck and neck throughout their finals rounds. The two had already separated themselves from the rest of the field and you could not help but feel that one of them was going to win.

On the par 4 14th hole, however, things started to heat up. As DeChambeau stood in the fairway, ready to take his second shot, he paused suddenly, turning to Cantlay and asking him to stop walking. Cantlay, who apparently had been walking, just caught the view of DeChambeau as he was in his shot routine. 

 

This was something quite unusual, as noted by commentators Paul Azinger and Dan Hicks, who questioned whether calling out Cantlay was worse, in terms of concentration-breaking, than the act of walking itself. Sure enough, DeChambeau landed his second shot far from the hole, leaving him a tricky birdie putt. Cantlay seized the opportunity, landing his second shot on the green, then sinking a 21-footer for birdie and a co-lead. 

This sparked what would turn out to be one of the best ends of a tournament I've ever witnessed. It appeared things had gotten personal for Cantlay, you couldn't tell it though, through his calm, focused demeanor.

 

On the par 5 16th hole, Cantlay found trouble off the tee, landing into deep rough, then laying up again into the rough. He managed to sink an 8-foot putt to save par. DeChambeau, after a monster drive and approach, two-putted for a birdie and one-shot lead at this point. 

On the par 3 17th hole, again Cantlay struggled. His first shot found the water short of the green, but he was able to hit a remarkable drop shot to just 8-feet, then sank the bogey putt, his first clutch putt of many more to come. DeChambeau had the upper hand though, keeping his tee shot dry, but in the rough just short of the hill. Forced to chip, something he had avoided all day, DeChambeau landed his shot on the fringe, but still short of the hole. A two-putt later and he too made bogey. 

DeChambeau, with his distance off the tee, had a clear advantage with his approach on the par 4 18th hole. Left with only 150 yards, DeChambeau stiffed his wedge shot to just 12 feet. At this point, things were looking good for him, but what he did not account for was just how clutch Cantlay could be when it mattered most. After finding the round with his tee shot, Cantlay found himself on the 18th green with a 21-foot putt for birdie, one he needed to make to have any chance. In as calm as he was all day, Cantlay assessed the line and sank the putt, putting the pressure on DeChambeau for the first time. But, in a lapse of judgement, DeChambeau missed the putt to win, to everyone's shock. It was a similar putt to the one he missed during his second round to shoot 59. 

Yet again, another playoff was required to decide a tournament. Little did we know though that a battle was about to begin: on one side, the long-driving, overpowering DeChambeau, on the other side, a laser-focused, clutch-putting Cantlay. On the line, not only a win, but 1st place in the FedEx Cup rankings and an advantage at winning $15 million.

 

 

A PLAYOFF LIKE NO OTHER

The stage had been set, two different players with two polar opposite approaches on the game, set to battle it out. Back to the 18th tee box the two of them went. Both Cantlay and DeChambeau found the fairway, with DeChambeau ahead by a considerable amount; something we saw all day. But Cantley's approach found the deep rough, while DeChambeau was 17-foot from the green. Again advantage DeChambeau, but Cantlay was not out just yet. He chipped on and nearly holed out, his ball coming to rest five feet from the hole. He sunk the par putt and the pressure was back on DeChambeau. But yet again, DeChambeau missed the putt to win and parred. 

Once again the two returned to the 18th tee box. Once again, they were in the fairway and DeChambeau ahead. Determined not to let off, DeChambeau again stiffed his approach shot, this time to six feet. Surely this was game over for Cantlay, who landed short but on the green, with a large mound separating him and the hole. Cantlay hit his birdie putt but could not land it within DeChambeau. Not deterred by this though, Cantlay again sank a massive 7 foot putt for par. Yet again, the pressure was back on DeChambeau, who... yet again missed his birdie putt for the win. 

 

At this point, it was hard to believe what was going on. 

To the par 3 17th hole, for what was the third playoff hole at this point, the two went. In a rare moment of consistency between the two players, both Cantlay and DeChambeau landed about 20 feet from the hole and two putted for par.

 

The playoff continued and returned to the 18th hole, where this time DeChambeau found trouble off the tee, landing his tee shot into a creek that ran along side the hole. But a good wedge from DeChambeau left him five foot for a par, which he sank. Cantlay found the fairway and two putted for par as well.

The playoff had now entered its fifth hole, played again on the 17th. Again DeChambeau hit a beautiful tee shot to about 6 feet, but not to be outdone, Cantlay followed with a tee shot to two feet, both excellent shots considering what was on the line. Both made their birdie putts and the playoff continued again.

At this point, many were questioning what would give out first: Cantlay's amazing clutch-putting or DeChambeau's accuracy off the tee. For the fourth but final time, the two returned to the 18th tee and found the fairway. This time though, DeChambeau hit his approach shot to about eight feet, but faced a difficult downhill putt. Cantlay landed his approach shot to about 17 feet, but despite the further distance, had the easier putt. In what was perhaps his most impressive putt all day, Cantlay sank his birdie putt with authority, putting DeChambeau in that all too familiar pressure putt situation. Unfortunately for DeChambeau, he missed his putt to extend the playoff, handing Cantlay a well deserved victory. 

 

This playoff was the epitome of the golf phrase we've all heard: "drive for show, putt for dough" and boy was that true for Cantlay today. 

 

It's hard to explain just how clutch Cantlay's putting was. I think I speak for most people when I say that this was the absolute best playoff I have ever seen in all my years watching and covering the PGA Tour. It was unprecedented. Cantlay was downed many times, but not out. I have never seen so many clutch putts and in such pressure situations. If he missed any one of his putts, DeChambeau would have won.

 

For those who could not watch the playoff live, I highly recommend checking out video of the playoff holes. The PGA Tour's TOURCast web-app is a great way to see this too and offers clips and shot paths of each hole.

THE TOP 30: WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT

With the conclusion of the BMW Championship, the Top 30 in the FedEx Cup rankings and thus the field for the Tour Championship, has been set.

Erik van Rooyen gets into Top 30, finishing in 27th place from a 45th place start. He shot a 65 during his Sunday round that included a clutch birdie at the 18th, which likely got him in, and finished solo third.

Sergio Garcia also gets in, moving up 16 places from 44th to 28th, after a T6 finish. Garcia's final round featured a few bogeys, but these were negated by some excellent bunker shots. 

K.H. Lee went on a birdie streak during his final round, making birdies on the 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes. Unfortunately, he found water on the 18th hole and bogeyed, resulting in him finishing one place short of the Top 30, at 31st.

Notable players out of the Top 30 include Webb Simpson, Lee Westwood, Paul Casey, Canadian Mackenzie Hughes and Phil Mickelson.

For a full list of who in the field next week, check out the PGA Tour website HERE.

HOW DID OUR PICKS FINISH?

1) Jon Rahm: T9 at 18-under, 4th

2) Justin Thomas: T22 at 14-under, 6th

3) Louis Oosthuizen: T38 at 10-under, 14th

 

Not bad overall, all three will be playing next week and have a chance to win the FedEx Cup. 

 

***

 

This concludes our coverage of what was hands down the most exciting tournament of the year. Our coverage continues next week with the final FedEx Cup playoff event and final tournament of the year: the prestigious Tour Championship. 

 

Stay tuned for our preview of the tournament later this week!

-Nick

Toronto Golf Reviews