Jacob Bridgeman just threw down a career-best 10-under 61 in Asheville, rallying from a five-shot deficit to win the inaugural Biltmore Championship by two shots. The dude was absolutely on fire, locking up his second PGA Tour title of the season, and it happened just in time to remind everyone why he’s a U.S. pick for next week’s Presidents Cup outside Chicago.
Bridgeman Was Absolutely Lights Out From Start to Finish
Talk about a Sunday charge! Bridgeman, the 26-year-old from South Carolina, was practically flawless out there at The Cliffs at Walnut Grove. The conditions were rain-softened, sure, but a 61 is a 61, and it’s his lowest round ever on the PGA Tour. He finished at a mind-boggling 26-under 258. He had eagle attempts from both 10 feet and 20 feet late in his round, and even though they turned into tap-in birdies, that just tells you how dialled in he was. What a performance, especially with his parents, his wife’s parents, and a ton of other family watching. He even mentioned, “I think they wanted me to get a win in front of them, I didn’t think it would happen this soon. I’m just super pumped.” Who wouldn’t be?
This guy leans hard on his putter, and it’s no surprise he leads the PGA Tour in that key putting statistic. He sank a crucial 13-foot par putt on the 11th hole and then, after going bunker-to-bunker on the par-4 12th, he drained another 12-footer for par. That’s clutch, man! He followed those pressure putts with three straight birdies, pulling away from the pack like it was nothing.
The Presidents Cup and a Tough Break for Shipley
While Bridgeman was going off, Ben James also put up a ridiculous 61, birdying three of his last four holes and scrambling for par on the final hole to grab second place, two shots back. He’d even shot a 61 in his previous tournament. J.T. Poston nearly dropped a 59, barely missing a 25-foot putt. The 54-hole leader, Neal Shipley, just couldn’t hang. He didn’t even make his first birdie until the par-5 eighth, and by then, Bridgeman had already flown past him. Shipley ended up with a 69, tying for third with Ricky Castillo, who shot a 65. That tie for third only bumped Shipley from No. 183 to No. 135 in the FedEx Cup Fall standings, with the top 100 keeping their cards for 2027. Oof.
This win for Bridgeman, coming on the heels of his first PGA Tour title earlier this year at Riviera, is a massive statement heading into the Presidents Cup. We saw J.J. Spaun win on the European Tour earlier, making his own case for a pick, and 21-year-old Jackson Koivun, another Presidents Cup pick who tied for fifth after a 63-65 weekend, also showed out. But Bridgeman’s performance? That’s the kind of momentum you want going into a team event. This guy is hot, and the U.S. team is going to be a force with him in the mix next week at Medinah.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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