It was a beautiful day for golf on Sunday during the final round of the Quicken Loans National, except for the bizarre 5-minute downpour that stopped play, essentially washing away one player’s chances of winning.
Sung Kang was standing over a 4-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole that would’ve given him the share of the lead when a random pop-up storm blew through TPC Potomac at Avenel Farm.
Unfortunately for Kang, he didn’t bring any rain gear nor an umbrella with him since the forecast called for sunny skies. The South Korean proceeded to miss the putt and get soaked in the process. He then went on to make double-bogey on the next hole ultimately sealing his fate as he finished in a tie for fifth.
“It said zero percent chance of rain all day. Like no chance of thunderstorms at all,” Kang told CBS after his round. “We didn’t expect it was going to rain this hard.”
Kang did earn an invite to the British Open for his efforts. Hopefully, he remembers to pack an umbrella.
Wrong. Zero percent of rain today. I wouldn’t have had one in. It’s my call to have one or not. Try to help out caddie with weight of bag
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) July 2, 2017
However, the day belonged to Kyle Stanely who fended off veteran Charles Howell III in a sudden death playoff to capture his second PGA Tour title.
Playing together, both men put on a ball-striking clinic all afternoon, firing matching 4-under par 67s. Howell had a chance to win it on the 72nd hole, but his 21-footer for birdie burned the left edge sending it into extra holes.
After signing their cards, they headed back to the 18th where both players missed the fairway and the green. Howell then failed to convert an 11-foot par putt leaving the door open. Stanely was able to make his 5-footer earning his first win since the 2012 Waste Managment Open.
“It means a lot. I’ve had so much help from my coaches, my family, my wife. It’s hard to put it into words,” Stanley said after the round.
Tournament host Tiger Woods, who was not in attendance, congratulated the 29-year-old on the victory via Twitter:
Congratulations to @kylestanleygolf on your @QLNational win. Proud to call you our champion. – TW
— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) July 2, 2017
Finishing in a tie for third was Scotsman Martin Laird and Rickie Fowler, who made a career-high nine birdies on the day en route to a final round 65, but a double bogey on the short par-4 14th doomed his chances.
Here’s a look at the final round highlights and results from the 2017 Quicken Loans National:
The next stop on the PGA Tour is The Greenbrier Classic at The Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, West Virgina.
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