Aaron Wise strolled up the 18th fairway in the fading twilight, lifting his hat over his head a couple of times as the thinned-out crowd cheered what would soon be his first PGA TOUR victory at the AT&T Byron Nelson.
The 21-year-old rookie pulled away from Marc Leishman at the turn after a four-hour rain delay to start the final round at the new Trinity Forest course Sunday. Then it was just a race to finish before nightfall so he wouldn’t have to wait at least another 12 hours to celebrate.
Wise shattered the AT&T Byron Nelson record at 23 under, shooting a 6-under 65 to beat Leishman by three strokes as both became the first to finish the AT&T Byron Nelson at 20 under or better. Leishman, who shared the third-round lead with Wise after leading the first two days, shot 68.
The treeless links-style par-71 layout, a few miles south of downtown Dallas, was defenseless with softer fairways and greens and no wind once the morning storms passed.
The AT&T Byron Nelson celebrated its 50th anniversary with a return to Dallas after 35 years at the TPC Four Seasons in suburban Irving. Rory Sabbatini set the previous record on that par-70 layout at 19-under 261 in 2009.
‘It’s everything I’ve dreamed of,’ said Wise, who won once each on the Web.com Tour and Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada. ‘I felt like when it rained today I was really going to tear the course up just because it allowed me to hit driver, which is my strength. I got a lot of short irons in my hand and was able to make a lot birdies.’
Branden Grace turned 30 on Sunday – and gave himself a nice present, a 9-under 62 that left him tied for third. The 62 ties his lowest round on the PGA TOUR; the other time he did it was at last year’s Open Championship, when he set the record for the lowest round at any major.
‘Good birthday present,’ Grace said.
‘It was fun. Obviously a great day.’ Grace holed out twice from greenside bunkers – for birdie on the opening hole and for eagle on the par-5 14th.
Final leaderboard:
261 – Aaron Wise 65-63-68-65
264 – Marc Leishman (AUS) 61-66-69-68
265 – Branden Grace (RSA) 66-68-69-62, JJ Spaun 64-69-69-63, Keith Mitchell 65-68-69-63
268 – Ryan Blaum 66-69-67-66, Kevin Na 66-65-69-68, Jimmy Walker 64-67-70-67
269 – Adam Scott (AUS) 67-65-72-65, Charles Howell 69-69-65-66, Kevin Tway 67-65-70-67
270 – Brian Gay 67-62-72-69
271 – Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 66-70-69-66, Ethan Tracy 65-72-67-67, Matt Jones (AUS) 67-65-68-71
272 – Russell Knox (SCO) 69-69-68-66, Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 72-63-71-66, Bronson Burgoon 69-68-67-68, Joel Dahmen 67-68-68-69, Derek Fathauer 70-67-66-69
273 – Jordan Spieth 69-66-71-67, Billy Horschel 68-69-69-67, Robert Garrigus 66-69-71-67, Peter Uihlein 65-70-69-69, Martin Piller 69-63-71-70
