SIMONS ISLAND, Ga: Talor Gooch played so well that he was in his own zone as he shot 6-under 64 for a three-shot victory at Sea Island at the RSM Classic. It was his first PGA TOUR title. Gooch tied the tournament record of 22-under 260 set by Kevin Kisner in 2014.
Anirban Lahiri missed the cut earlier in the week. It was the last tournament of the calendar year for the Indian, who has not had a great start in the Fall Season.
Gooch ran off three birdies in four holes to start the back nine and never let anyone get close to cap off a strong fall with the ultimate prize. The victory moved him to the top of the FedExCup standings, to No. 33 in the world ranking and to Augusta National in April for the Masters.
He was playing with two guys who have won before. He was pushed early by a past Sea Island champion. The buzz in the middle of the round was another player flirting with 59.
Mackenzie Hughes of Canada, who won the tournament in 2016, rallied from the group ahead of Gooch with four birdies among his last six holes, capped by a 20-foot putt at No. 18 for a 62 to finish second at 19-under 263.
Sebastian Munoz (65) was alone in third and Tyler McCumber (60), Cameron Smith (64), Tom Hoge (67) and Seamus Power (68) tied for fourth.
Along with the Masters, Gooch gets to start next year in Maui for the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua.
McCumber, who had to birdie two of his last three holes on Friday to make his second cut in six fall starts, started his round on the back nine, made two birdies and a 50-foot eagle putt at No. 15, then turned and birdied five holes in a row, all on putts of 10 feet or less.
His chance for 59 came down to a much longer putt than he wanted — just under 55 feet — after having a wedge in his hand from 144 yards out at the par-4 ninth. He didn’t leave it short. The putt slid past the hole on the left side and he tapped in for the second 60 of the week. Munoz did it in the first round.
