Davis Riley secures his first individual PGA Tour victory a week following his sister's brain surgery and seizure.
Riley managed to beat Scottie Scheffler and Keegan Bradley with a five-shot lead by scoring a 70 in his final round. This brought his total score to 14-under-par for the tourney. His birdie on the 17th hole not only increased his lead to five, but also sealed the deal for a major win.
Despite that, Riley revealed that he had some serious personal issues before the tournament. The week before Colonial Country Club, he found out his sister, Caroline, had suffered a seizure at her workplace, sending panic straight through him. His sister was diagnosed with a brain tumor and, after getting medical assistance, had it surgically removed. Although non-cancerous, the situation was still terrifying for the young golfer.
Riley wasn't certain if he'd be able to fully focus on the game due to these events. However, his sister urged him to carry on and play at the Charles Schwab Challenge. Even though Caroline couldn't be there to witness Riley's first individual win on the PGA Tour, he still made her proud with his solid performance. The victory bestowed a tartan jacket and a trophy upon him.
"I'm lucky enough to know she was in good hands and is headed in the right direction," said Riley. He also mentioned Murray, a fellow pro golfer whose death was announced at the same tournament. "It's a sad day for the golf community," he commented. Murray had recently withdrawn from competition, citing illness. His parents later announced that his decision was prompted by suicide.
Riley's win at the Charles Schwab Challenge marked his second on the PGA Tour and his first as an individual. His earlier win on this tour occurred with a partner at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans the previous year. His friend and fellow golfer, Nick Hardy, congratulated him at the 18th green and voiced his belief that this win had been a long time coming.
Read also:
- Prodigies of sport: Littler's predecessors
- Nagelsmann's announcement: A restless Christmas for national team players
- What sports fans prefer to watch on television
- The calm before the upheaval: Nagelsmann's European Championship plans
Source: edition.cnn.com
