3M Open: Matthew Wolff captures 1st PGA Tour victory with thrilling finish

Matthew Wolff kisses the trophy after winning the 3M Championship golf tournament at TPC Twin Cities. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Matthew Wolff, who turned professional last month, earned his first PGA Tour victory Sunday at the 3M Open at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, Minnesota.

Wolff, 20, shot a 6-under 65 in the final round to edge out fellow Tour newcomer Collin Morikawa and Bryson DeChambeau by one stroke at 21-under overall.

The inagural 3M Open would come down to the 72nd green and end in dramatic fashion with back-to-back eagles on the final hole of the tournament.

DeChambeau, playing one group ahead of Morikawa and Wolff, made eagle on the par-5 18th hole and took a 1-shot lead. Wolff’s approach landed on the edge of the green, but he powered a 26-foot putt off the pin and into the hole to take lead with an eagle of his own.

Morikawa pushed his potential tying 22-footer to the left and victory belonged to Wolff.

The victory gave Wolff a two-year PGA Tour exemption and eligibility for the upcoming FedEx Cup playoffs, in addition to a $1.152 million first-place check.

Not old enough to drink legally, Wolff had the following exchange during his post-round press conference.

How does a 20-year-old celebrate a win? pic.twitter.com/h8MD8aiVxI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 7, 2019

Wolff played his back-nine Sunday in a bogey-free 31. At age 20 years and 84 days, Wolff became the ninth-youngest winner in PGA Tour history and and the youngest since Jordan Spieth at the 2013 John Deere Classic.

Wolff attended Oklahoma State and hit the clinching putt for the Cowboys’ 11^th national title as a freshman and won the individual title this year at the 2019 NCAA Championship in May.

The 3M Open victory adds another sterling line to Wolff’s resume, which also includes the:

• 2018 Phil Mickelson Award
• 2019 NCAA single-season scoring record (68.7)
• 2019 Jack Nicklaus Award
• 2019 Fred Haskins Award

Wolff joins Tiger Woods and Ben Crenshaw as one of only three players to win the NCAA individual title a PGA TOUR title in the same year.

Thank you so much Mr. Nicklaus! Just trying to follow in your footsteps! https://t.co/t3v5FKaRZe

— Matthew Wolff (@matthew_wolff5) July 8, 2019

Wolff’s unique swing continued to turn heads all weekend.

But it was his steely nerve and steady play that led him that eagle on 18 Sunday – and eventually – victory.

AMAZING! 🏆@Matthew_Wolff5 makes EAGLE to win! 🦅

It's the 20-year-old's first PGA TOUR victory.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/LYMXFIduPI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 7, 2019

“I’m speechless,” he said after his win. “That putt, and to do that with all the nerves, and trying to get my Tour card. I had the same celebration when I won the national championship at Oklahoma State. I kind of stepped and yelled, ‘Come on!'”

As far as what lies ahead, Wolff said appreciates “job security”- at least for two years – at his age but he is most looking forward to the playing the Masters next year.

This year, it ended with a Woods victory on Wolff’s birthday, April 14.

“The Masters. That’s something I’ve always dreamed of,” he said. “That’s the most prestigious event in golf. Augusta National Golf Club is amazing. I’ve always wanted to play there and never got to.”

[opinary poll=”should-pga-tour-players-be-suspended-for” customer=”golfweek”]

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: 3M Open: Matthew Wolff captures 1st PGA Tour victory with thrilling finish