Brilliant Blixt wins in West Virginia
By: Nick Bonfield | Mon 08 Jul 2013
Jonas Blixt shot a final-round 67 to record a 13-under-par 72-hole total and win the Greenbrier Classic by two shots from a four-strong group at Old White TPC in West Virginia.
The Swede – who hadn’t finished inside the top 10 on the PGA Tour all season – moved up 100 places to 39th in the FedEx Cup as a result of his victory.
He did, however, come second in his native land at the Nordea Masters in June.
Blixt played steady golf over the first two days to head into the weekend well placed on seven-under-par.
On Saturday, he mixed five birdies with a double-bogey for a second-consecutive 67, but trailed Johnson Wagner (64) by four shots with 18 holes to play.
Inclement weather causes a significant suspension on Sunday, and the leaders didn’t start until 10pm UK time.
Wagner made a solid start, but dropped shots at 11, 13 and 15 to open to door for Blixt.
The 29-year-old, who turned in two-under-par, offset birdies at 10 and 12 with bogies at 11 and 13, but made birdie at 16 to move two clear.
He parred home, and after Wagner and playing partner Jimmy Walker failed to birdie their last two holes, his victory was confirmed.
Talking points:
The collegiate system
Blixt is the latest in a long line of Europeans to move to America and take up golf scholarships at college. It’s a system that produced McDowell, Paul Casey, Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie and countless others, and it’ll continue to do so. It’s great that so many of these young Europeans are receiving the competition, teaching and grounding that’s integral to their golfing development. I’m just concerned about the knock-on effects for the European golf and the European Tour, especially with the channels that exist between college and the American professional tours.
Jordan Spieth
I’ve been incredibly impressed with this young man since he took the bold decision to leave college and turn professional. He’s already amassed enough money to earn a 2013 PGA Tour card and he seems to be on the leaderboard week in, week out. He’s an incredibly exciting prospect, and, at 19 years old, he’s already displayed skill, talent and mental strength incongruous with his tender years. In my view, he’ll be a multiple major winner and a future mainstay in the world’s top 10.
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