After 11 funny birds, Austin Eckroat wins World Wide Technology

Birdies on 1 and 2.

Birdies on the 4th, 5th and 6th.

Birdie at 8.

Birdies on 10, 11 and 12. And another on the 14th. And another on the 17th. Eleven in all.

Video game numbers. From the video game player. The day before, after he shot a six-under 66 in the third round of the World Wide Technology Championship to advance, Austin Eckroat was asked how he would prepare for Sunday. Margs? They are playing in Mexico this week after all.

No, said Eckroat.

“Play more video games, he said. “That’s how I take my mind off things – you can’t think about anything else. I will come back, eat food and play video games.”

Is there anything special?

“They came out with a new ‘Call of Duty’ — that’s been my obsession lately,” Eckroat said. “It’s always changing, but that’s it for now.”

The shooter’s game worked, as on Sunday, Eckroat did not miss. As the last group turned, he tied for the lead, then exploded. On the 344-yard, 4 10th at El Cardonal in Diamante, Eckroat hit the green on his way to a birdie and a one-shot lead. On the 189-yard, par-3 11th, Eckroat holed a 12-footer on his way to a birdie and a two-up lead. On the 401-yard, par-4 12th, he dropped the iron to 5 feet en route to his third straight birdie and triple the lead. From there, he held on, made two more birdies, survived the final hole and won by one after Sunday’s 63, with Justin Lower and Carson Young finishing in second place.

The win continues a successful year for the 25-year-old. In March, he won the Cognizant Classic. He posted 8 top 25 finishes. He made 21 cuts in 26 events.

Video game numbers.

The takeaway

Something special may be coming from Eckroat. On the Golf Channel broadcast, analyst Johnson Wagner said he wouldn’t be surprised if he made a run like Scottie Scheffler going forward. Be careful.

Leaderboard breakdown

– Justin Lower, Nico Echavarria and Carson Young started the final round with a share of the one-stroke lead. Lower, Echavarria and Young are 16-under, Joe Highsmith, Austin Eckroat and Max Greyserman are 15-under, and Ben Griffin and Maverick McNealy are 14-under .

– As the leaders make their turn, here’s how the leaderboard reads: Eckroat and Lower are at 20-under, Greyserman and Young are at 19-under, and McNealy, Highsmith, Echavarria and Garrick Higgo are at 17-under. At the front, Eckroat made six birdies, while Lower made four.

– Eckroat drives the 344-yard, par-4 10th from behind the green, and holds a one-shot lead. Eckroat is 21-under, Greyserman and Lower are 20-under, Young is 19-under, and Highsmith is 18-under.

– Eckroat drives the 189-yard, par-3 11th into the 12-footer, and takes a two-up lead. Eckroat is 22-under, Greyserman and Lower are 20-under, and Young is 19-under.

– Eckroat drives the 401-yard, par-4 12th in a 5-footer, and leads by three. Eckroat is at 23-under, Greyserman, Lower and Young are at 20-under, and Highsmith is at 18-under.

– Birdies down the 12th from 15 feet, and walks between the two leads. Eckroat is 23-under, Lower is 21-under, and Young is 20-under.

– Lower bogeys the 475-yard, par-4 13th after missing the green with his second shot, and Eckroat’s lead goes back to three. Eckroat is 23-under, Lower and Young are 20-under, and Greyserman is 19-under.

– Eckroat birdied 554, 5 14th after he holed 5 feet after his second shot in front of a tree near the green. Eckroat is at 24-under, while Greyserman, Lower and Young are at 20-under.

– Eckroat drives the 462-yard, par-4 17th on a 15-footer, after Young moved within two of the lead, and his lead is three. Eckroat is 25-under, Young is 22-under, Grayserman and Lower are 21-under.

– Eckroat survived the grave at 585, the par-5 18th. His third shot, a pitch from the right of the green, bounced back to his feet and bounced, but he won by one after Young failed to hole out for eagle while playing from behind. The final leaderboard read as follows: Eckroat finished at 24-under after tying for a nine-under 63, and Small and Lower tied for second, at 23-under, after each player shot 65.

The last word

“That was probably one of the best rounds of golf I’ve ever played.” – Eckroat on the Golf Channel after his round.