Vincent Norrman followed in the footsteps of fellow Swede Linn Grant just hours earlier and picked up the first PGA Tour win of his career after beating Nathan Kimsey in a playoff at the Barbasol Championship.
Norrman, a PGA Tour rookie, shot a final round 66 to join Kimsey on 22-under before parring the first extra hole to land the $684,000 first prize and earn points on both sides of the Atlantic due to the tournament’s co-sanctioned status.
“I don’t think I can process this for a while. I’m lost for words,” an emotional Norrman said. “It’s amazing.”
Rain on Saturday left Keene Trace Golf Club in Kentucky a sitting duck to an early birdie barrage, with Norrman coming from a shot behind Trevor Cone to take the solo lead thanks to six birdies on his front nine.
Cone, a fellow Tour rookie, was Norrman’s nearest challenger for the majority of the day until a double-bogey on 16 put paid to his chances, while Kimsey set the clubhouse target after a brilliant closing 64.
But there was late drama when Norrman arrived at the 18th needing a par to win in regulation. The Swede hacked his way up the left-hand side ensuring he avoided the water, before facing a seven-footer for bogey just to make the playoff.
To his immense credit, he was up to the task and made amends when the pair returned to 18 for the playoff, making a clutch up-and-down for par to secure his first PGA Tour title.
Cone, who will rue that late double-bogey, finished in a tie for third alongside Adrien Saddier at 21-under, with 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover a shot further back in fifth.
Barbasol Championship leaderboard
* won in a playoff
- -22 Kimsey, Norrman*
- -21 Saddier, Cone
- -20 Glover
- -19 Pendrith
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HELLO AND WELCOME
Welcome to live updates from the final round of the 2023 Barbasol Championship as PGA Tour rookie Trevor Cone goes in search of a maiden victory. He leads after a 63 on Saturday but one behind and in prime position to land a fifth PGA Tour title is 2009 US Open champion Lucas Glover.
A host of other challengers are lurking - it's all to play for...
59 watch
JC Ritchie is on an absolute heater just now. A birdie at the 14th gets him to -9 for the day and -14 for the tournament. If he birdies in he'll go sub-60 and give himself a shot at an unlikely win having started 12 shots back.
Final tee time fast approaching
It won't be long until the final group of Cone and Glover take to the course. They get underway at 7.50pm British time, so in just over half an hour.
Such is Ritchie's form, Cone may be chasing by the time he gets going, which could work in his favour as he attempts to win on the PGA Tour for the first time.
Closing double for Ritchie
The South African hits his second into the water on 18 and racks up an ugly double-bogey six that drops him from -16 to -14. It's still an exquisite closing 64 but that finish will surely sting for a while.
Hot start for Ryan Armour
The veteran American has come flying out the blocks and makes his fifth birdie of the day at the seventh to get to -17 and into a tie for the lead with Vincent Norman and Trevor Cone.
Cone birdies the first
If there are any nerves for the overnight leader, he isn't showing them. He rolls in an 18-footer at the first for a birdie to get to -18 and back into the solo lead.
Scoring is low so he's going to need a few more if he wants to be the last man standing in a few hours.
Three in a row for Bhatia
Popular left-hander Akshay Bhatia gets within two of the lead with a run of three birdies in a row from the 11th. He's -16 for the tournament and has a chance to set a formidable clubhouse target.
Murray ties for lead
The birdies are flying in. Grayson Murray is one of the players going on a tear and makes her fifth birdie of the day at the sixth to join Cone at -18. It's like target practice for these guys just now.
Dufner in the mix
It's great to see the name of Jason Dufner back at the business end of a leaderboard. The 2013 PGA champion closed his front nine out with four birdies in his final five holes to get to -16, which has him just two behind the trio of leaders,
Birdies galore
It's honestly hard to keep up with all the birdies that are being made. Murray, Norman and Cone all birdie to get to -19. Glover slots in one behind after back-to-back gains at the fourth and fifth, while a trio of challengers are lurking at -17.
Simple Simon
Back to Simon Holmes in the studio and, shock horror, he's in the all black ensemble with the light blue shirt. Got to admire his consistency at this point.
Stricker bags another senior major
Third major of the year ✅Fifth victory of the year ✅... and a spot in the 2024 @THEPLAYERSChamp.@stevestricker brings home another @KauligChamp! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/MITOQeP0UEJuly 16, 2023
Steve Stricker continues his incredible run of form to win his third senior Major of the year. His final round 66 was good enough to beat David Toms to the Kaulig Companies Championship by three shots.
Norrman responds to Cone birdie
Cone birdies the sixth to move into the solo lead and Norrman hits right back to join him on -20 with a birdie at the seventh.
Norrman opens up two-shot lead
All of a sudden Norrman leads by two. He gets to -22 after three birdies in a row to close out his front-nine 30.
Elsewhere, Bhatia and Kawamura set the clubhouse target at -17 after respective rounds of 65.
Cone to -21
The overnight leader gets within one of Norrman with a simple two-putt birdie from the fringe at the par-4 11th. Alongside, the best Glover can do is a par after a woeful chip from short of the green left him some 50 feet away.
Eagle for Pendrith
From nowhere, Taylor Pendrith is right in it. The Canadian holes from 10ft for eagle at 15 to get to -20 and within two of Norrman. He'll probably need to pick up a couple more shots in his last three to have a shot but stranger things have happened.
Glover with a chance at 12
His full swing has never changed. Glover whips a beautifully drawn iron shot to about 10ft on the 12th to set up a good birdie chance. At four behind, it's one he could really do with dropping.
Kimsey to -20
From miles away on the 14th, Kimsey gets a birdie putt to fall that takes him to -20 and well in contention. The birdies have dried up a little so this tournament is there for the taking still.
Birdies for final group
What an approach for @TC0ne 👏He now co-leads @BarbasolChamp with Vincent Norrman. pic.twitter.com/40nLOSmrBDJuly 16, 2023
After a quiet spell, the final pairing make a move. Glover gets to -19 with his birdie then Cone follows him in to tie Norrman for the lead at -22.
Here comes Glover
Not done yet 🐦@Lucas_Glover_ gets back-to-back birdies @BarbasolChamp. pic.twitter.com/Avd3Oe00cYJuly 16, 2023
A second birdie in a row takes Glover to -20. He's momentarily within two of Norrman, but the Swede two-putts the par-5 15th to regain the outright advantage.
Kimsey chance on 17
Nathan Kimsey, 36, sticks his approach to 17 quite close as he looks to complete an unlikely comeback. He'll have the upcoming putt to get to -23.
Kimsey within one
The Englishman calmly strokes his birdie putt in on 17 to get to -22. If he can pick up one more, he'll set a proper clubhouse target for the leaders to chase.
Cone falls two back with costly double
The overnight leader's hopes of landing a first PGA Tour win are as good as over after a clumsy double-bogey five on the 16th saw him slip to -21 and two back of Norrman.
Up ahead, Kimsey puts the finishing touches to a round of 64 that has him in the house at -22. That could be enough, you just never know.
Norrman in trouble on 18
Standing on the 18th tee with a one-shot lead is always going to induce some nerves. With water right, you can therefore understand why Norrman takes it out of play with a huge pull left.
Glover's race run
His birdie putt on 17 slips by the right edge, meaning Glover's hopes of winning are all but over at three back.
Cone also can't get his birdie putt to drop after his double-bogey.
Late drama - Bogey at 18 for Norrman
After a poor tee shot, Norrman was eventually left with 6ft for bogey to tie Kimsey in the clubhouse at -22. He set it on its away and it looked set to miss before his ball somehow caught enough of the right edge to spin round the hole and book him a spot in a playoff with Kimsey.
Norrman is the champion
The moment he became a champion ❤️@VincentNorrman | @BarbasolChamp pic.twitter.com/NM2o0TewuOJuly 16, 2023
At the first playoff hole, Norrman makes a par at the 18th to beat Kimsey and win on the PGA Tour for the first time.
Thanks for joining
As ever, thanks for following along with our coverage. We'll be back on Thursday for the first round of the 2023 Open at Royal Liverpool, but until then, it's goodbye!