Cocrak's 2nd Win "Caught a Big Fish~"... Spiess in 2nd Place

Charles Schwab Challenge Final Day: Even-Par Victory by 2 Shots Amid Strong Winds, Hoffman Tied for 3rd Place

Jason Kokrak (left) is holding a check and posing for a commemorative photo immediately after winning the Charles Schwab Challenge. Fort Worth, Texas, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz

[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] Jason Kokrak (USA) has caught a big fish.

On the 31st (Korean time), at the Colonial Golf Club near Fort Worth, Texas (par 70, 7,209 yards), the final day of the PGA Tour Charles Schwab Challenge (total prize money $7.5 million) ended with Kokrak maintaining an even-par score amid strong winds to secure a 2-stroke victory (14-under 266). Following his breakthrough win at The CJ Cup last October, which was part of the 2021 season and marked his persistence with '232 attempts before success,' this is his second career win in seven months, earning $1.35 million (15.1 billion KRW) in prize money.

Kokrak faced off against hometown favorite 'Texas boy' Jordan Spieth (USA) in the champion group, drawing even more spotlight. Starting one stroke behind in second place, Kokrak recorded five birdies and five bogeys. Although he began shakily with bogeys on holes 1 and 4, Spieth also struggled with three consecutive bogeys from holes 2 to 4. They were tied for the lead after the front nine holes, but Kokrak pulled ahead by two strokes with 'stepping stone birdies' on holes 11 and 13, gradually widening the gap.

Kokrak made consecutive bogeys on holes 15 and 16, and Spieth bogeyed the 15th hole (par 4), keeping the one-stroke battle going. However, Spieth's second shot on the final 18th hole (par 4) went into a hazard, ultimately leaving him to settle for second place (12-under 268). Although he led for three days straight, his iron shots faltered today, missing the green ten times and struggling to create birdie opportunities. Despite one win and five top-5 finishes this season, his number of victories seems insufficient.

Kokrak is known on the PGA Tour for his long drives. Last year, he ranked 7th in average driving distance (312.4 yards), and this year he is 21st (307.0 yards). Born in Ontario, Canada, and residing in the U.S., he won the Ohio Amateur Championship in 2006-2007 and, after two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour (second-tier) in 2011, he advanced to the PGA Tour in 2012. He cheered, "I am trying to improve at every tournament," adding, "This time, my putting felt especially good."

Charlie Hoffman led the daily best with 5-under to finish tied for 3rd place (10-under 270), while defending champion Daniel Berger (both USA) struggled with 2-under, finishing tied for 20th (4-under 276). It is interesting that Sergio Garcia (Spain), who started in 3rd place, dropped to tied 20th after a poor 6-over round, recording one birdie, five bogeys, and one double bogey. From Korea, An Byeong-hun (30) finished tied for 50th (even par 280), and Kang Sung-hoon (34, both CJ Logistics) tied for 62nd (3-over 283).

'Texas Boy' Jordan Spieth is teeing off on the 17th hole on the final day of the Charles Schwab Challenge. Fort Worth, Texas, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

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