A brutal turn of events on the 72nd hole gave Australia's Cameron Davis a thrilling victory in the Rocket Mortgage Classic after a tense five-player shootout on the final day.
The Sydney native was expected to face a playoff against Akshay Bhatia on Monday morning at the Detroit Golf Club after the two were tied at 18 under par.
But Bhatia collapsed with a sudden three-putt on the final green, allowing Davis to win in regulation time.
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'It's a bad situation': Australian reveals dark days — and what sparked the PGA's rapid comeback
How Hypnotherapy Transformed Australia | 01:29
Bhatia reached the green safely in regulation, but his first putt ended up four feet short of the hole.
The American, who never three-putted throughout the tournament, missed a short second putt for a bogey and lost to Davis.
The bogey was Bhatia's second dropped shot all week.
Australia's Cameron Davis won the thrilling Rocket Mortgage Classic after a five-way shootout on the final day. Credit: AFP
That meant Davis finished at 18 under par, good enough to win the tournament three years ago for his lone PGA Tour victory and the $2.5 million first place prize.
And it prompted emotional scenes from Davis, who was seen fighting back tears during his post-round interview.
“This is crazy,” he said.
“I don't want anyone to go through what happened to Akshay. But I've been trying really hard to get myself out of a tight spot and it's pretty good that I've suddenly managed to do it.”
Akshay Bhatia collapsed after a sudden three-putt on the final green. Credit: AFP
Davis has not played well since finishing 12th at the Masters in April.
The 29-year-old's best result in his seven tournaments since then was a tie for 38th at the Wells Fargo Championship, but he missed the cut at the PGA Championship and U.S. Open.
It's his first top 10 finish on the PGA Tour since the Shriners Children's Open in October.
Speaking about his turnaround, Davis said: “I had a lot of support to help me get out of the doldrums.
“We had some little flashes last week but no indication of this coming.
“I started working with a hypnotherapist a few weeks ago and started working on sorting myself out from a different angle. I am a completely different person today than I was a few weeks ago.”
Davis spoke to Australian media in more detail about his work with the hypnotherapist, explaining that his love for the game had begun to wane even before he'd actually seen a match.
He said since starting the initiative, “we've seen a huge, immediate impact.”
“To be honest with you, I haven't been in a great place mentally the last six months or so,” he said. “As the year went on and I wasn't playing very good golf, it just felt like all the opportunities were slipping away from me.”
“I had a great week at the Masters and it feels like it's all gone since then.
“I felt that a change in direction was absolutely necessary.
I would definitely start something and if it doesn't work
It seems to have immediate effects, but it's very easy to quit.
“I felt a lot better last week, even though the score wasn’t, and that’s why it turned out like this.
I couldn't believe how well I am this week because I wasn't feeling great a couple of weeks ago.”
Meanwhile, a defeated Bhatia was at a loss for words, saying: “It's the worst.”
“There's no other way to put it,” he added. “I mean, it's the worst.”
“Honestly, I was just a little nervous. I'm human,” he said, trying to explain the three-putt.
Davis rolls off the green and into the water! | 00:52
Bhatia's stumble also meant Australia's Ming Woo Lee finished in a tie for second place alongside Davis Thompson and Aaron Lai.
Each player will win AUD923,000.
But Lee too will be asking himself what could have been after his terrible blunder on the final hole.
After a lackluster first nine holes at even par, Lee exploded with birdies on the 10th, 14th, 15th and 17th holes, including his second chip-in birdie of the day.
Lee, who was in the lead at 18 under par, overshot the final green and then hit an awkward downhill third shot that went past the hole and off the green.
The rising star narrowly missed a chip shot for par, forcing him to finish with a bogey and a tournament score of 17-under, one stroke behind Davis.
Ming Woo Lee's attack came to a halt on the final hole. Credit: Getty Images
Davis' own final round included a two-under 70, helped by a birdie putt from just outside 4 feet on the par-5 17th hole.
Seven-time PGA runner-up Cameron Young of the United States, seeking his first title, was one behind the leader before bogeying the 16th and 18th holes.
Lai, chasing his first PGA title, shot a 72 but couldn't close the gap on the final hole.
Davis started with a three-putt bogey but made a 20-foot birdie putt on the third hole, a 21-foot birdie putt on the par-3 fifth hole and a tap-in birdie putt after it fell into a bunker on the par-5 seventh hole to share the lead at 18-under at the turn.
Davis bogeyed the par-5 14th hole after hitting a hazard, giving Bhatia sole control of the lead until he birdied the 17th hole.
Lee made a tap-in birdie on the par-5 14th hole, then chipped in from 20 feet on the par-3 15th and then chipped in within four feet for a birdie on the par-5 17th hole to share the lead.
But Lee went over the green on the 18th and into deep rough, pitched into the rough on the other side of the green and, despite pitching inches from the hole, bogeyed his final shot to fall one stroke short.
—AFP