LOS CABOS, Mexico — Erik van Rooyen made a 16-foot eagle putt on the par-5 closing hole Sunday to win the World Wide Technology Championship, a day after Matt Kuchar squandered a six-stroke lead with a late meltdown.
Playing alongside Kuchar at Tiger Woods-designed El Cardonal at Diamante on the tip of Baja California, van Rooyen played the back nine in 8-under 28 for a closing round of 9-under 63. The 33-year-old South African finished the 72-hole tournament at 27-under 261 for his second PGA Tour victory, two strokes ahead of Kuchar and Colombia’s Camilo Villegas.
“Quite numb after that putt went in on 18,” van Rooyen said. “You imagine yourself full of euphoria and just being ecstatic, and I was just numb. I think it’s because of everything the past six days with my friend Jon (Trasamar) being so sick. I guess just the moment just hasn’t hit me yet.”
Kuchar and Villegas each shot a 66, with the 45-year-old American parring the final four holes. Tied for the lead on 18, Kuchar — after van Rooyen and Villegas hit fairway-wood second shots near each other on the green — hit his approach left of the green and chipped 20 feet past the hole.
“I’m pretty bummed,” Kuchar said. “You come out with a great chance to win a golf tournament — and the goal is to win a golf tournament. But I hold my head held high. Erik played incredible golf.”