Frittelli earns first PGA Tour title with John Deere win
Dylan Frittelli celebrated his maiden PGA Tour title after winning the John Deere Classic by two strokes.
South African Frittelli carded a seven-under-par 64 to hold off a red-hot Russell Henley and emerge triumphant at 21 under on Sunday.
Frittelli played steady golf all weekend and made just one bogey throughout the tournament, with the 29-year-old was mistake-free on Saturday and Sunday.
The win will propel Frittelli up the FedEx Cup standings, where he previously sat 153rd and earned him an invitation to next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Calm. Cool. Collected.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 14, 2019
The winning moment.@Dylan_Frittelli claims the @JDClassic.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/xrdr6KCqJk
It will be the third consecutive Open Championship Frittelli will compete in after missing the cut the two previous seasons.
"It's still sinking in," Frittelli – who will also appear in the first three majors next season – said. "It means a lot. My focus this week was to just try and get some FedEx Cup points and try to move up in that top 125, and now, perspective is going to change big time.
"Jump on that flight and head over to the Open next week. Hopefully, I can be calm by the time I get there. It's going to be a fun flight."
Henley put pressure on Frittelli after rocketing up the standings with the low round of the day – a 10-under-par 61 at TPC Deere Run.
The three-time Tour champion was seeking his first win since 2017 and used a spectacular final round to stay in contention. However, he was unable to leapfrog Frittelli.
A Sunday 61 for @RussHenleyGolf.
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 14, 2019
Lowest round of his career
Ties lowest final round on TOUR this season
Lowest final round @JDClassic since 1983
10 birdies today ties his career high for a round
28 birdies this week sets his new career high#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/qBDYtdJTDG
Andrew Landry (69) rounded out the top three at 18 under, while Collin Morikawa (66) and Chris Stroud (67) were a stroke further back in a two-way tie for fourth.