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SPORTS Monday 20 January 2020

Andrew Landry regroups to win The American Express

By JOHN NICHOLSON geyed the next three holes,
AP Sports Writer made a par on the par-5
LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — 16th that felt like another
Andrew Landry regrouped bogey, and was tied when
to win The American Ex- Ancer ran in a 25-footer on
press after blowing a six- 17.
stroke lead on the back "Just kind of calmed myself
nine Sunday. down and said, 'Hey, look,
Landry broke a tie with these are two holes that we
Abraham Ancer with a can go out and get, they
7-foot birdie putt on the suit my game very well, es-
17th hole — the jagged pecially 18,'" Landry said.
rock-ringed, island-green Landry finished at 26-un-
par 3 called Alcatraz — der 262. He opened with a
and made a 6-footer on 66 on the Stadium Course,
the par-4 18th for a 5-under shot 64 in the second round
67 and a two-stroke victory. at La Quinta Country Club
"That was probably the shot and had a 65 on Saturday
of the tournament for me," on PGA West's Jack Nick-
Landry said about the 17th. laus Tournament Course for
"Just to be able to go over a share of the third-round
there and, to that right hole lead with Scottie Scheffler
location, and just hold one — four strokes ahead of
up and hit a good distance third-place Rickie Fowler.
and have a 7-, 8-footer to The anticipated duel be-
look at. ... Thankfully, it went tween Landry and Scheffler
in and kind of made 18 a fizzled early.
little bit easier." Scheffler bogeyed the par-
The 32-year-old Texan won 4 first after his drive went
the pro-am event at PGA left and rolled back down
West two years after losing a hill into a large divot. He
a playoff to Jon Rahm. also dropped strokes on
"This is a golf course that the par-5 fifth and long par-
has suited me very well in 3 sixth to fall four strokes
the past," Landry said. "And behind Landry. On the
just to look back on some of water-guarded fifth, his
the things that happened a aggressive play with a fair-
couple years ago and then way wood from a downhill
now, just to be able to final- lie near a right-side bunker
ly get it done. I didn't want went well left and, after
to have to go back into a a long chip, he missed a
playoff again and we're Andrew Landry reacts after a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win The American Express golf tourna- 3-footer for par.
running out of daylight, so ment on the Stadium Course at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. Scheffler shot 70, briefly giv-
it's good to finally get the Associated Press ing Landry a scare with an
job done again." eagle on 16, to finish third
The former University of Ar- more often. So, these are three rounds, I feel like I attention to the leader- at 23 under. The 23-year-old
kansas player has two PGA the weeks that we search didn't score as low as I board," Ancer said. "And former University of Texas
Tour victories, also winning for and we just continue to should have for how good I then that's when I noticed player is in his first season on
the 2018 Texas Open. He just play our ball and keep hit the ball," Ancer said. "But and I was like, 'All right, the PGA Tour after winning
won Sunday after missing doing what we do, and stayed patient and today well, we got to make two twice and topping the Korn
seven of eight cuts to start hopefully they come soon- the putts started to fall in." other birdies.' I made the Ferry Tour Finals and overall
the season. er than later." Playing two groups ahead putt there on 17, which was points lists last season.
"That's why you just got Trying to become the third of Landry, Ancer birdied big, and then just couldn't Bud Cauley (65) and Sepp
to keep grinding it out," Mexican winner in PGA No. 16 and 17 and parred make it happen on 18. But Straka (66) tied for fourth at
Landry said. "We all search Tour history and first since the 18th, missing from 35 I played good, man. I'm 20 under. Fowler had a 71 in
for these weeks, and the 1978, Ancer matched the feet and saving par with a proud of how I played." the final group with Landry
majority of players out here Stadium Course record 4 1/2-footer. Landry appeared to be and Scheffler to tie for 10th
are going to have them, with a 63. He realized he was tied for cruising to victory when he at 18 under. From nearby
four, five, six times a year "All week, really, I hit the lead just before teeing off birdied the first three holes Murrietta, Fowler played
and top-10 players are go- ball great off the tee and on 17. on the back nine to open the event for the first time in
ing to have them a little bit iron shots, and in the first "I wasn't paying much the six-shot lead. He bo- six years.q