Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele became the first team wire-t0-wire champions, eventually winning by two strokes with a score of 29-under 259 at TPC Louisiana in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans on Sunday.
Cantlay and Schauffele began the tournament shooting a record low score of 59 in best ball format in the opening round; they followed up with 68 in alternate shots on Friday, 60 in the third round, and closed out with an even par round 72 leaving a comfortable three-stroke lead on the final hole where they tapped in for bogey.
“It was a great week,” said Cantlay. “Second time we’ve played this event and we were looking forward to it since last year. We really always enjoy being with each other, both on and off the golf course, and we both played exceptional this week and had a great time doing it.”
The teammates closely bonded in victories for the United States at the 2021 Ryder Cup and 2019 Presidents Cup team competitions, and were able to “trust” their friendship to catapult into their first victory of 2022.
The pair had competed against one another in college, and “then really bonded at Presidents Cup,” said Cantlay. “Fred Couples [is an] amazing captain. He and [assistant captain] Tiger Woods decided that they would put us together. Through all of our time ... we just became best friends.”
Cantlay was named the 2021 PGA Tour Player of the Year for victories, including the $15 million bonus from The FedEx Cup Championship.
This season, Cantlay tied for first at The WM Phoenix Open and The RBC Heritage, but would lose in both playoffs to current #1 ranked Scottie Scheffler with his maiden victory, and former #1 player in the world Jordan Spieth.
Schauffele won the gold medal at last summer’s Olympics, but his last victory on tour was in January 2019, at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Cantlay and Schauffele began the day with an enormous five-stroke lead and started conservatively with six pars, before making an eagle on the par five seventh hole.
“Pat [Cantlay] hit an unbelievable shot into seven.” recalled Schauffele. “It’s one of those shots you kind of see on coverage and you’re like I don’t even know how that ball got there.”
The twosome would bogey holes #9 and #10, before rebounding with a birdie on #11.
“I feel like those bogeys are pretty much my fault,” admitted Schauffele. “I put them in bad spots on nine and ten with an eight iron and a wedge in hand.”
“Pat is really good at staying calm and staying present, that helped me,” added Schauffele. “So we weren’t really too worried about where everyone else was and just trying to focus on what we do best.”
“I think just anytime you get in contention staying present and focusing on the task at hand, is just the most paramount thing,” said Cantlay. “Because that should be really your only focus and I think we did a good job of that today, even with some trials and tribulations in the middle.”
“We played solid today coming in and I’m really happy with how we played all week,” concluded the Orange County, California native Cantlay. He now has the most wins on the PGA Tour since October 2020, with five.
Cantlay pondered quitting golf, but persevered a 3-year layoff recovering from a back injury before returning in 2017, and also tragically lost a close friend three years ago from an auto accident.
“Life is not golf, golf is not life ... there are things that are much more important than golf,” said Cantlay. “Having the right perspective can help you navigate the highs and lows. It’s never as easy as it seems, and it’s never as difficult as it can feel.”
“If you are cognizant of that and work hard every day ... over time you can achieve really big, great things,” Cantlay concluded.
The teammates went on vacation together after the previous season with their respective partners, Cantlay’s girlfriend Nikki Guidish, and Schauffele’s wife Maya; Schauffele is a native of San Diego.
“It just felt natural,” said Cantlay of their vacation. “We’re both pretty relaxed and low key, and both West Coast guys grow up in Southern California. And so I think we balanced each other out and really complement each other, both on and off the golf course, we have a great time.”
Local favorite Sam Burns, who played at LSU, and Billy Horschel finished second with a 261 total score, 62–68–63–68. The team of Doc Redman and SamRyder placed third with 264.
Five teams tied at 265, to include Davis Riley/Will Zalatoris, Keegan Bradley/Brendan Steele, Harold Varner III/Bubba Watson, Taylor Moore/Matthew NeSmith, David Lipsky/ Aaron Rai, and the South African team of Garrick High/Branden Grace.
The PGA Tour moves this week to The Mexico Open at Vidanta April 28–May 1, 2022.
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