Riley, Hardy win first PGA Tour event at Zurich Classic, Canadians Hadwin, Taylor finish second
CTV
Nick Hardy and Davis Riley birdied four of their final six holes -- highlighted by Riley's 33-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th -- to give both players their first PGA Tour victory at the Zurich Classic on Sunday.
Nick Hardy and Davis Riley birdied four of their final six holes -- highlighted by Riley's 33-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the par-3 17th -- to give both players their first PGA Tour victory at the Zurich Classic on Sunday.
"It was nerve-wracking, honestly," Riley said. "The first win is always tough."
They began the final round three shots back and closed with a 7-under 65 in alternate-shot play to finish with a tournament-record total of 30-under 258 at TPC Louisiana, eclipsing the 259 posted by 2022 winners Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele.
Hardy and Riley were two shots better than Adam Hadwin and Nick Taylor, both from Abbotsford, B.C.
"You're just rooting for each other as hard as you can to hit a good shot," Riley added. "Luckily we were able to do that. ... I was pretty nervous coming down the stretch."
Riley's previous best finish was a playoff loss to Sam Burns in the 2022 Valspar Championship. Hardy's best was a tie for fifth at the Sanderson Farms Championship last fall.
But with a chance to help one another take a maiden victory, "We both handled it very well, especially coming down the stretch," Hardy said.
