Australia’s Cameron Smith withheld world number one Jon Rahm to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions Trophy in Hawaii.
Smith started the day tied with Rahm, but took the lead with a birdie at the 4th hole. The lead was two at the turn that drew Rahm back to one with birdie at the par-3 11th hole.
Smith maintained the single-stroke lead that matched every move of Rahm, both players each making four birdies over the six-hole finish. to secure his fourth PGA Tour victory in his 157th start.
“I felt like Jon was obviously playing with him over the weekend, I felt like I had to make a birdie to kind of keep up with him or stay ahead,” Smith said. “The set pieces kept coming in. That was the key over the weekend, I think, just to see how the set pieces go. ”
The score of 72 holes from 34 under par had the previous best winning score, but Ernie Els beat in 2003, with an almighty three strokes.
Fellow Australian Matt Jones caught fire over the weekend and stormed into third place just two strokes behind Smith.
Jones shot 62 and 61 scores over the weekend to improve on the record for the lowest 36-hole score to par (23-under) in consecutive rounds in TOUR history.
“You only have a lot of opportunities out there and I was lucky enough to make a few shots today and yesterday and then today I took a few shots for – I took one for an eagle and shot one for an eagle yesterday, so that always helps the score, ”Jones said.
“It just shows the depth of the PGA TOUR and how good the players are. “If you had told me I would have shot 32-under, I would have been more than happy to sit in the clubhouse and let everyone play and see what happens.”
