Clark Closes with Historic 60 to End Two-Year Drought

Wyndham Clark delivered a masterful round of 11-under 60 when it mattered most, surging past 54-hole leader Si Woo Kim to win THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson at 30-under par. Clark's victory marks his first win since the 2024 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, and it came with a flourish at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.

Clark made nine birdies and an eagle for his fourth victory on the PGA TOUR, with his back-nine 28 providing the knockout blow. He finished three strokes clear of Kim, who posted 27-under, while defending champion Scottie Scheffler came in third at 25-under after a final-round 65.

A Sunday Showdown at TPC Craig Ranch

Clark finished the third round two shots behind 54-hole leader Si Woo Kim, setting up a final-day battle between three players who knew what it would take to win. Clark entered the final round trailing Kim by two strokes, but put on a masterful effort with his Sunday round to seize control.

Clark's 60 is the lowest final round by a winner this season, and it included some jaw-dropping moments on the back nine. After driving the green on the par-4 14th and two-putting for birdie, Clark dripped in a 45-foot birdie on the 15th to maintain his advantage. He took a two-stroke lead into the final hole after a 12-foot birdie on the par-3 17th.

Kim fought valiantly throughout the day, coming out firing with six birdies in his first 12 holes to fend off the chasing pack. But once Clark emerged as his main challenger, the momentum shifted decisively. Clark became the first PGA Tour player to win twice with a closing 60, after shooting 11 under on Sunday and overtaking Kim by three.

Scheffler, playing alongside Kim in the final pairing as hometown favorites and friends, never quite found the spark needed to defend his title. Scheffler matched Kim's 65 and was 25 under, but never caught Kim or Clark one group ahead after the second hole in the final round.

Kim's Near-Miss Continues Winless Streak

Si Woo Kim's week at TPC Craig Ranch featured plenty of fireworks. He just missed out on a 59 on Friday, bogeying the final hole when a par would have given him the 16th sub-60 round in PGA Tour history. That 60 gave him a commanding lead heading into the weekend.

But it proved to be a week of almosts for Kim -- from nearly breaking 60 to nearly breaking his winless drought that dates back to the 2023 Sony Open. Despite his second-place finish at 27-under, Kim showed grace in defeat, acknowledging Clark's exceptional play.

Jackson Suber, a lesser-known name, quietly posted an impressive fourth-place finish at 23-under, while Keith Mitchell rounded out the top five at 22-under. Tony Finau, Zach Bauchou, and Tom Hoge all tied for sixth at 20-under in a week where birdies came in bunches and TPC Craig Ranch yielded historically low scores despite a $25 million renovation that repositioned 74 bunkers, recreated three waste areas and reshaped all 18 greens with dramatic slopes.

Pool Strategy Insights: Bet on Proven Winners in Birdie Fests

Clark's victory at TPC Craig Ranch offers a clear lesson for golf pool players: when a tournament sets up as a birdie fest, prioritize players with proven firepower who've won before in low-scoring conditions. Clark collected 500 FedExCup points and $1.85 million with the win, rewarding anyone who backed him despite his recent drought.

The key was identifying that Clark had the game for these conditions. He demonstrated elite putting all week, and when soft greens and calm winds create scoring opportunities, players who can go super-low separate themselves. Don't be scared off by a player's recent results if their skill set matches the course setup,Clark proved that point emphatically.

For similar birdie-fest tournaments on the PGA Tour schedule, look for players with closing speed and recent experience contending in low-scoring events. Scheffler and Kim both showed they can post numbers, but Clark's ability to shoot 60 when he absolutely needed it made the difference. That killer instinct matters most when everyone is making birdies.

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