Xander Schauffele And Patrick Cantlay Cruise To Zurich Classic Title

The American duo led from start to finish on Sunday in New Orleans, as the pair sealed a two shot victory

Xander and Patrick shake hands
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Matt Cradock
By
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The pair of Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay looked in imperious form at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, with the duo securing a comfortable two shot win at TPC Louisiana.

Following their record-breaking opening three rounds, Schauffele and Cantlay began the day with a five-shot advantage over the South African pair of Garrick Higgo and Branden Grace. However, on a final day which featured the difficult alternate shot format, the American duo never really looked phased.

For Schauffele, the win is his first since his Gold Medal success at the Tokyo Olympics last year, but his first PGA Tour title since the 2019 Sentry Tournament of Champions, some 40 months ago. Cantlay on the other hand will be relieved to pick up his first PGA Tour title of the year, with the 30-year-old losing twice in play-offs this season.

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After setting the 54-hole tournament record with rounds of 59, 68 and 60, the pair produced six pars to begin their final day. It was on the 7th hole though where Cantlay twisted the screw, with the American putting a shot from 250-yards to just a few feet. Faced with a comfortable putt, his partner, Schauffele, duly tapped-in for the eagle to extend their lead to seven.

Four holes later though, that lead was reduced to just one, with the pair of Billy Horschel and Sam Burns flying around the TPC Louisiana layout, as the American duo were five-under-par through 11 holes.

A birdie at the par 5 12th helped extend Schauffele and Cantlay's advantage to two, and when Horschel and Burns bogeyed the 17th, the buffer was now three.

Burns and Horschel walk

Burns and Horschel had threatened throughout the back nine 

(Image credit: Getty Images)

As Horschel and Burns parred the last, Schauffele and Cantlay were left with a comfortable buffer playing the par 5 18th, a hole that had gifted a number of birdies throughout the day and the tournament.

Pin-pointing their way up the 584-yard behemoth, the duo would actually go on to make a bogey. That dropped shot didn't matter though, with Cantlay picking up his seventh PGA Tour title and Schauffele his fifth.

Matt Cradock
Matt Cradock
Staff Writer

Matt joined Golf Monthly in February 2021 covering weekend news, before also transitioning to equipment and testing. After freelancing for Golf Monthly and The PGA for 18 months, he was offered a full-time position at the company in October 2022 and continues to cover weekend news and social media, as well as help look after Golf Monthly’s many buyers’ guides and equipment reviews.

Taking up the game when he was just seven years of age, Matt made it into his county squad just a year later and continues to play the game at a high standard, with a handicap of around 2-4. To date, his best round came in 2016, where he shot a six-under-par 66 having been seven-under through nine holes. He currently plays at Witney Lakes in Oxfordshire and his favourite player is Rory McIlroy, despite nearly being struck by his second shot at the 17th during the 2015 BMW PGA Championship.

Matt’s current What’s In The Bag?

Driver: Honma TW747, 8.75°

Fairway Wood: TaylorMade Rocketballz Stage 2, 15°, 19°

Hybrid: Adams Super Hybrid, 22°

Irons: Mizuno MP54, 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 Tour Satin, 50°, 56°, 60°

Putter: Cleveland TFI 2135 Satin Cero

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

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