Brian Campbell earned his second victory of the year on the PGA Tour. He won in a dramatic five-hole, sudden-death playoff over Emiliano Grillo at the John Deere Classic. In 2016, Campbell put on a ball-striking clinic, finishing strong with a 4-under 67. At 18-under 266, he was the first player to reach that extraordinary benchmark.
The last cohort wasn’t even done completing rounds. Campbell had completed his round nearly a half-hour prior and made the decision to remain in the clubhouse to see if his score would stand up against the field’s later competitors. His patience paid off, and he was rewarded by finding himself tied with Grillo. Grillo still had plenty of momentum, aided by a Campbell double bogey.
On the dramatic 72nd hole, Campbell bombed a good tee shot 300+ yards down the center of the fairway. That incredible shot put him in the ideal position to go for the win. From just under 40 feet, he hit his wedge to the green and two-putted for par. His previous try at a very important 15-foot par putt stopped on the left edge of the hole. The ball spun past, leaving him all square with Grillo.
Grillo had briefly moved into the lead after Campbell’s audacious double-bogey 5. The weight of that pressure was palpable as he stood over those last putts to go.
“I got myself there. I gave myself a chance,” – Emiliano Grillo
The playoff resumed on the first sudden-death hole, # 18. Facing huge pressure, Campbell striped his tee shot down the fairway, and hit an approach shot that left Grillo in a near impossible spot. Campbell took advantage of the storm and made a clutch two-putt for par to win by two. He clinched his win as Grillo floundered to catch up.
Campbell’s run in the tournament has been nothing short of magical. In fact, he’s only finished outside the top 30 in every other event this year … other than his two wins of course. It does emphasize his remarkable ability to do the unexpected when it really counts.
Having clinched his victory, Campbell paused to appreciate the prevailing conditions of the day. He had a new appreciation for his smart decision to escape the blazing sun and take a dip.
“I made some good putts. Hit a good putt on the 72nd and that’s all I can do.” – Emiliano Grillo
This historic win is a testament to Campbell’s phenomenal talent and outstanding tenacity. More than that, it increases his growing clout on the PGA Tour. As he goes further, for sure he will want to embrace this success. His goal is to continue making an impact in future tournaments.
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