After 11 funny birds, Austin Eckroat wins World Wide Technology

Birds on 1 and 2.

Birdies on the 4th, 5th and 6th.

The bird on the 8th.

Birdies at 10, 11 and 12. And another at 14. And another at 17. Eleven in all.

Video game numbers. From a video game player. A day earlier, after he shot a six-under 66 during Saturday’s third round at the Tech World Championship to move within a stroke of the lead, Austin Eckroat was asked how he would be ready for Sunday. Margs? After all, they will be playing in Mexico this week.

Neither, said Eckroat.

“I also play some video games,” he said. “That’s how you take your mind off things – you can’t think about anything else. I’m going to come back, eat some food and play some video games.”

Any in particular?

“They came out with a new ‘Call of Duty’ — that’s been my obsession lately,” Eckroat said. “It always changes, but this is it now.”

The shooting game worked, as on Sunday, Eckroat did not miss. As the final group made the turn, he tied for the lead, then blew out. On the 344-yard, par-4 10th at El Cardonal at Diamante, Eckroat chipped the green on his way to birdie and a one-shot lead. On the 189-yard, par-3 11th, Eckroat sank a 12-footer on his way to birdie and a two-shot lead. On the 401-yard, par-4 12th, he dropped an iron to 5 feet on his way to his third straight birdie and a three-shot lead. From there, he continued, making two more birdies, surviving a final bogey and winning by one after a Sunday 63, with Justin Lower and Carson Young finishing as runners-up.

The win continues a breakthrough year for the 25-year-old. In March, he won the Cognizant Classic. He has posted eight top 25s. He has made 21 cuts in 26 events.

Video game numbers.

Takeaway

Something special may come from Eckroat. On the Golf Channel broadcast, analyst Johnson Wagner said he wouldn’t be surprised if he made a similar run to Scottie Scheffler going forward. Careful.

Breaking down the leaderboard

— Justin Lower, Nico Echavarria and Carson Young start the final round with a one-shot lead. Lower, Echavarria and Young are at 16, Joe Highsmith, Austin Eckroat and Max Greyserman are at 15, and Ben Griffin and Maverick McNealy are at 14.

– As the leaders make the turn, here’s how the leaderboard reads: Eckroat and Lower are at 20-under, Greyserman and Young are at 19, and McNealy, Highsmith, Echavarria and Garrick Higgo are at 17-under. On the front nine, Eckroat made six birdies, and Lower made four.

— Eckroat tees off on the 344-yard, par-4 10th after driving the green, and he takes a one-shot lead. Eckroat is 21-under, Greyserman and Lower are 20-under, Young is 19-under and Highsmith is 18-under.

— Eckroat aces the 189-yard, par-3 11th from 12 feet and he takes a two-shot lead. Eckroat is 22-under, Greyserman and Lower are 20-under and Young is 19-under.

— Eckroat drives the 401-yard, par-4 12th into a 5-footer, and he leads by three. Eckroat is 23-under, Grayserman, Lower and Young are 20-under and Highsmith is 18-under.

– Lower birdies the 12th in a 15-footer, and he moves to within two of the lead. Eckroat is 23-under, Lower is 21-under and Young is 20-under.

– Lower bogeys on the 475-yard, par-4 13th after missing the green with his second shot, and Eckroat’s lead is back to three. Eckroat is 23-under, Lower and Young are 20-under, and Greyserman is 19-under.

– Eckroat cuts the 554-yard, par-5 14th as he chips to 5 feet after his second shot lands just short of a tree near the green. Eckroat is 24, and Grayserman, Lower and Young are 20-under.

— Eckroat passes the 462-yard, par-4 17th to a 15-footer, after Young had broken to within two of the lead, and his lead is three. Eckroat is 25-under, Young is 22-under, Grayserman and Lower are 21-under.

— Eckroat survives a scare on the 585-yard, par-5 18th. His third shot, a pitch from the right of the green, bounces off his feet and he’s disappointed, but he wins by one as Young misses in the eagle playing in the group behind. The final leaderboard reads like this: Eckroat finishes at 24-under after a 9-under 63, and Young and Lower are tied for second at 23-under after each player shot a 65.

The last word

“This is probably some of the best golf I’ve ever played.” – Eckroat on Golf Channel after his round.