Jacob Bridgeman earned his first PGA Tour win at Tiger Woods’ tournament in Los Angeles. His second came much closer to home.
Bridgeman shot a torrid round of 61 to win the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville for his second title of the year Sunday in Asheville, N.C.
On a day ripe for low scores at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove, Bridgeman completed a 17-under-par weekend (rounds of 64 and 61) to finish at 26-under 258. He birdied four of his final six holes to notch a two-stroke win over Ben James, who also posted a 10-under 61.
Bridgeman earned his maiden title at the signature Genesis Invitational earlier this year. But there will always be special meaning imbued in this one for the native of Inman, S.C., less than an hour’s drive from Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
“I think we stressed the tournament a little bit with asking for tickets every day, trying to get more and more because we had so many people coming in,” said Bridgeman, 26.
“It was just awesome. I feel like I had all my family and friends out there cheering for me. Every time I made a putt, it was pretty loud. So super special. I told my parents last time when I won, I said I want them there for the next one, and they’re here for this one, so it’s pretty awesome.”
Bridgeman, whose standout season helped him earn a captain’s pick for the United States Presidents Cup team, began the day five off the pace but birdied three of his first four holes. His 10-foot putt for eagle at the par-5 eighth lifted him into a tie for the lead.
He went on to birdie Nos. 10, 13, 14, 15 and 17. Bridgeman finished the week leading the field in Strokes Gained Putting, a stat he leads the tour in this season.
“I was just seeing the lines great,” Bridgeman said. “Felt like all week over the putt I knew exactly what it was going to do, and it was just a matter if I read it correctly. It was just magical. I think the (par) putts I made on 11 and 12 were the ones that won me the tournament. Those were huge saves when I got some trouble.”
James racked up four birdies on each side of the card and eagled the par-5 third. The rookie earned his best finish on tour, beating his last start, when he finished third at the Wyndham Championship last month.
“I wasn’t really thinking about winning,” James said. “I knew that it would probably take something in the 50s, but I made a nice, probably 25-footer on 16 and I was like, ‘Oh, we could get close.’ Just kind of missed my eagle on 17. Probably knew I needed to make that.”
Neal Shipley, who led after the second and third rounds, fell short in his quest for his first PGA Tour win after shooting a 2-under 69. He tied for third at 23 under with Ricky Castillo (65).
The new tournament was the opener of the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Fall series, which helps determine status for the following season. Bridgeman, who finished the season top 50 in the points race, was already safe and qualified for all signature events next year. But James is projected to jump from No. 108 to 66 and Castillo from No. 69 to 57.
Finishing in the top 100 guarantees a player will earn or keep his tour card, and finishing in the 51-60 range gets a player into the first two signature events of 2027.
Early in the day, J.T. Poston fired an 11-under 60 and missed a 26 1/2-foot birdie at his final hole that would have given him a 59. Poston charged into a tie for fifth at 21 under with Jackson Koivun (65), a rookie who’ll also compete for the U.S. in the Presidents Cup this coming week.
–Field Level Media
