Davis Riley takes advantage of lackluster Scottie Scheffler to win by 5

Not solely did Davis Riley maintain off World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler to win the Charles Schwab Challenge, he received the occasion by 5 pictures.

Scheffler struggled off the tee all through the fourth spherical, so he couldn’t problem Riley a lot. The 27-year-old didn’t play his finest golf however averted large disasters.

Riley carded an even-par 70 spherical on Sunday to end at 14-under total. He made 4 bogeys and 4 birdies on his day.

“I’ve been looking to get some momentum this year,” Riley mentioned. “This helps a lot, catapulting me in the right direction — being in the field for the remaining two Signature Events will be huge. I’m looking forward to those to make a push towards the TOUR Championship. I’m over the moon and excited for the rest of the season.”

Scheffler couldn’t get something occurring Sunday. After he shot 65-63 in Rounds 2 and three, he accomplished his event with a 1-over 71. Riley held a robust lead for many of the spherical.

The former Texas Longhorn dropped three pictures earlier than lastly selecting up his first birdie on the par-3 thirteenth. He added his second on 17, however Riley didn’t let any of his errors outline him.

“I tried to treat today as if we both started tied, and I just tried to win the day,” he mentioned. “I felt like I just stayed in my own bubble — I told my caddie before the round, I want to get lost in the process.”

Despite dropping his first shot on 2, he picked it proper again up on 4. Another bogey got here at 5, however he made the flip in 35 pictures along with his second birdie at 9. The eleventh gap noticed him get to 1-under on the day. Two bogeys within the subsequent 4 holes put some stress on him, nevertheless it was not sufficient to lose. He added yet one more birdie at 17 to seal the deal.

The former Alabama Crimson Tide participant lastly felt like he had it within the bag halfway via the again 9 on the par-3 thirteenth.

“I saw the leaderboard. I saw Keegan Bradley was at 9, Scottie was at 8 at the time, and he had a good look for birdie on 13,” he defined. “I knew I had a 4- or 5-shot lead at the time.”

However, Texas golf will be demanding. On Sunday, the winds swirled closely, holding Riley on his toes.

“With the wind the way it was, the firmness of the greens, how it was picking up, I knew it was going to be a tough finish,” Riley mentioned. “Scottie was starting to hit some really good golf shots, and I knew he could make a push, so I tried to wear out the fairways and greens and try to get a couple opportunities — roll some good putts. If they went in, great, if not, I knew pars were good coming in.”

Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images

The Texas resident not solely will get a incredible jacket, however he’ll trip residence within the Charles Schwab Challenge Schwab Stingray.

Riley may even get into the PGA Tour’s ultimate two Signature Events — The Memorial Tournament and the Travelers Championship. This win could possibly be what he wants to push his profession in the suitable route. It is a spot that tends to take a look at the most effective gamers, and he dealt with a agency and quick Colonial with poise.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Playing Through. For extra golf protection, ensure to comply with us @_PlayingThrough on all main social platforms. You may also comply with her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.