Playoff Birdie Gives Streb First Tour Title


Robert Streb birdied the second sudden-death playoff hole to win the McGladrey Classic. The $5.6 million PGA Tour event got underway Thursday on the Seaside Course at Sea Island, Ga.

The 27-year-old Oklahoman fired Sunday's low round, a 7-under 63, to finish at 14-under 266 to tie Will MacKenzie and Zimbabwe's Brendon de Jonge in regulation. MacKenzie, who entered Sunday sharing the lead with Andrew Svoboda, closed with a 68 while de Jonge shot a 65.

Both Streb and de Jonge parred the first playoff hole, the 18th, eliminating MacKenzie, who bogeyed, from the playoff. On the second hole, the 192-yard, par-3 17th, Streb hit it close and then sank his 4-foot birdie try for his first PGA Tour victory. Just before that, de Jonge missed an 18-footer for birdie.

The win, worth $1.008 million and 500 FedEx Cup points, gives Streb a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a spot in next year's Masters. Through three events on the young 2014-15 season, Streb leads the FedEx Cup standings.

Streb went out with five birdies and a bogey on the front nine, making the turn in 4-under 31. After three straight pars followed by a bogey on the par-4 14th, the Kansas State grad reeled off four straight birdies before parring the last for a 32 on the home half.

After carding the lowest score in his brief PGA Tour career and reaching the clubhouse in 14-under, Streb endured a 90-minute wait to see what happened with the other leaders still on the course.

"I was pretty nervous over those short putts, but managed to work it out, and things went in my favor," Streb said. As for his emotions after nailing down his maiden Tour title, he added, "Very thrilled."

Finishing two shots out of the playoff were Kevin Kisner (65), Ken Duke (66), Russell Henley (69 and 2013 McGladrey Classic champion, Chris Kirk, who closed with a 67.

Tied for eighth at 11-under 269 were Argentina's Fabian Gomez (68) and Americans Kevin Chappell (65), Mark Wilson (67) and Svoboda, who closed with a 71.

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-mcgladrey-classic/leaderboard.html.