It’s a non-major event for Cabrera
Argentine wins first outside of a major
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. – Angel Cabrera no longer has to fret about that streak of disappointments in non-major events on the PGA Tour.
The 44-year-old Argentine won the Greenbrier Classic on Sunday for his first victory in a tournament other than a major, closing with his second straight 6-under 64 for a two-stroke victory over George McNeill.
Cabrera, whose only other PGA Tour victories came in the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters, built a three-shot lead before making things interesting with a pair of late bogeys. He finished at 16-under 264.
Cabrera had no top 10-finishes this season entering the tournament but had everything working Sunday, hammering drives and approach shots with precision and coming up with clutch putts, especially on the back nine.
“This was a great opportunity,” Cabrera said through an interpreter. “I wanted it. I needed to win a tournament. I felt under control today out there, and I didn’t want to let it get away from me.”
McNeill shot a season-best 61 for his fourth top-10 of the season and first since mid-March. But he’ll put golf on hold for a few weeks. Golf Channel reported that his older sister, Michele McNeill, died of cancer Sunday morning and the player was informed after his round was over.
“Golf doesn’t really mean a whole lot,” McNeill told reporters.
Webb Simpson had a 63 to finish third at 10 under.
Third-round leader Billy Hurley III bogeyed four of the first six holes to fall out of contention. He shot 73 and finished in a seven-way tie for fourth at 9 under.
No third-round leader has hung on to win the Greenbrier Classic in its five-year existence.
McNeill was the clubhouse leader at 14 under well ahead of Cabrera, who still had the back nine left.
Cabrera overtook McNeill with birdie putts of 17 and 7 feet on the 11th and 12th holes, then moved to 17 under by holing a 176-yard 8-iron up the hill for eagle on the par-4 13th, the hardest hole at Old White TPC.