SILVIS, Ill. — Fairmont native William McGirt shot his fourth consecutive 69 on Sunday in the final round of the John Deere Classic, but it was different in one respect.
McGirt had made a bogey on No. 18 in each of his first three rounds, but on Sunday got some revenge by making a birdie on the hole, the fifth toughest during the tournament on the TPC Deere Run course. McGirt also played the final round without a bogey, but managed just two birdies despite numerous short birdie putts.
That left him at 8 under for the tournament and in a tie for 41st place, earning him $18,330. More important, he climbed five spots on the FedEx Cup list to 78th. He has now pocketed $708,207 on the season, which ranks him 111th on that list.
There are seven events remaining before the FedEx Cup playoffs begin, including this week’s British Open, which McGirt is not eligible to compete in. The top 125 players enter the playoffs, which McGirt has participated in during all four of his seasons on tour.
After the British Open is the RBC Canadian Open, where McGirt has finished second twice.
This week McGirt will return to his hometown and conduct a clinic at Fairmont Golf Course at 6 p.m. on Thursday. Before the clinic, at 4 p.m., a representative of two of McGirt’s major sponsors, Srixon and Cleveland, will be on hand to demonstrate some of those companies’ products. There is no cost to attend the clinic.
Jordan Spieth, who will be trying to add the third leg of golf’s Grand Slam this week at the British Open, won the John Deere, in a two-hole playoff over Tom Gillis, who has never won on the tour.
Gillis and Spieth, who opened the tournament with an even-par 71, finished the final round at 20-under 264.
“To be able to shoot 20-under in three rounds is nice momentum,” said Spieth, who first PGA victory came two years ago at the John Deere Classic when he was a teenager.
The 46-year-old Gillis, who was attempting to become the oldest first-time winner on the PGA Tour in 20 years, sent an approach into the water on the second playoff hole and Spieth made a routine par to claim the win. Spieth, who had rounds of 64 and a career-best 61 on Saturday, was 1 over par for the day before birdies on No. 13, 14, 16 and 17 allowed him to catch Gillis.
