Bridgeman posts career-best round to win on PGA Tour

Jacob Bridgeman rallied from a five-shot deficit with the lowest round of his young PGA Tour career, a 10-under 61, that carried him to a two-shot victory in the Biltmore Championship Asheville.

Bridgeman, whose first PGA Tour title was earlier this year at Riviera in the Genesis Invitational, became the sixth multiple winner this season.

His victory on Sunday (Monday AEST) came several hours after J.J. Spaun won the BMW PGA Championship on the European tour, making a statement that perhaps he deserved consideration as a Presidents Cup pick for the US team. Bridgeman's victory was a reminder why he was one of the US picks for the event next week outside Chicago.

Karl Vilips and Cam Davis were the only Australians in the field. Vilips finished well with a final-round 67 to be tied for 39th, while Davis posted a 71 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 70th.

The 26-year-old Bridgeman was practically flawless at The Cliffs at Walnut Grove, and given the rain-softened conditions, there was no other choice.

J.T. Poston had a 25-foot putt for 59 that he narrowly missed, and Ben James also shot a 61.

Neal Shipley, the 54-hole leader, couldn't keep pace. He didn't make his first birdie until the par-5 eighth hole, and by the time he finally was under par for his round it was too late.

Bridgeman had eagle attempts from 10 feet and about 20 feet late in his round, missed them both for tap-in birdies and finished at 26-under 258. He won by two shots over James, who birdied three of his last four holes and had to scramble for par on the final hole.

Bridgeman, who leads the PGA Tour in the key putting statistic, leaned hard on his putter. Along with eight birdies and an eagle, two of his biggest putts were for par on the 11th and 12th holes to keep him in the chase.

He made a 13-foot par putt on the 11th, and then after going bunker-to-bunker on the par-4 12th, Bridgeman made a 12-foot putt. He followed with three straight birdies to pull away.

He grew up about an hour away in Inman, South Carolina, and had his parents, his wife's parents and plenty of other family members watching. His parents were not in Los Angeles when he won earlier this year.

"I think they wanted me to get a win in front of them," Bridgeman said. "I didn't think it would happen this soon. I'm just super pumped."