Murphy looks to positives as Knappe, Fox and Scheffler claim emotional wins
John Murphy hits his tee shot on the first hole during Foursomes at the 2021 Walker Cup at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla. on Saturday, May 8, 2021. (John Mummert/USGA)
KINSALE'S John Murphy looked to the positives despite finishing 17 shots behind Germany's Alexander Knappe in the Dimension Data Pro-Am in South Africa.
The Cork talent (23) made a marathon 10,400-mile journey from the PGA Tour's AT&T Pebble Beach to Fancourt for the opening Challenge Tour event of the season.
But while he could only manage a one-over 73 on the Montague Course to finish tied 47th on six-under, he heads for this week's Bain's Whisky Cape Town Open with more confidence after learning a lot on his South African debut.
"I never really got any bit of momentum going all week, but there are plenty of positives to take from it," said Murphy, who faced a 10-hour time difference between California and South Africa.
"It was obviously a long journey over here and tough to adjust. It's my first time in South Africa, and playing golf is different down here, so I have plenty of positives to take from the week and plenty to build on going forward."
An emotional Knappe (32) secured his first win for over five years when he birded the 18th and carded a four-under 68 to claim his third Challenge Tour title by one stroke from South Africa's Dean Burmester, who also shot 68, on 23-under par.
On the DP World Tour, New Zealand's Ryan Fox (35) was relieved to secure his second title in wire-to-wire fashion at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic.
Six shots clear overnight, he started nervously and saw his lead reduced to just two strokes before regrouping to card a three-under 69 for a five-shot victory over Ross Fisher, who shot 66, on 22-under par at Al Hamra Golf Club.
"Probably relief is the main emotion, obviously it was a bit of a struggle today," Fox said after he'd birdied the 12th, 13th and 18th
"Sleeping on a six-shot lead, I didn't sleep very well last night. Obviously, a couple of the guys came at me early. I was a bit nervous. I had that awful feeling in the pit of my stomach all day.
"But I'm very happy with how I played, a couple of great shots coming down the stretch, and it was certainly nice walking down the last with putter in hand with so many putts to win."
In Arizona, Scottie Scheffler clinched his first PGA Tour title when he beat FedEx Cup champion and Ryder Cup teammate Patrick Cantlay with a birdie at the third hole of a sudden-death playoff to claim the WM Phoenix Open.
As overnight leader Sahith Theegala got a bad bounce into the water and bogeyed the 17th, eventually finishing tied third with Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka after a 70, Cantlay set the target with a four-under 67.
Scheffler had a chance to take the title at the 72nd hole but pushed a five-foot birdie putt wide.
But he made no mistake on their third trip down the 437-yard 18th, firing a 115-yard wedge to 26 feet and rolling the putt before Cantlay missed from 12 feet to extend the playoff.
“This is a lot of hard work,” Scheffler (25) said after being embraced by his wife Meredith at TPC Scottsdale’s 18th “We worked really hard for this and I am so appreciative. “It’s such a great place and such a fun week. I am very pleased.”