David Toms made a crucial bogey save at the last hole of the day to sew up the Cologuard Classic title on Sunday in Tucson, Ariz.
Toms shot a 4-under 68 to wrap up the three-round event at 15-under 201, beating Sweden’s Robert Karlsson (final-round 67) by one shot. Toms won for the third time on the PGA Champions Tour and the first time since 2020.
The 54-hole leader, Toms started the day nicely, with three straight birdies at Nos. 2-4 at Omni Tucson National. After two more birdies and a bogey, Toms made a two-putt birdie at the par-5 17th hole, matching Karlsson’s birdie there to maintain a two-shot lead.
Then, Toms’ tee shot at the par-4 18th rolled down a slope and into a water hazard, forcing him to take a penalty stroke.
Toms had to scramble for bogey while hoping Karlsson would not birdie to force a playoff. Karlsson missed his birdie putt, and Toms made a right-to-left bogey putt to finish just one ahead of his counterpart.
“To have to finish on that 18th hole there, like I said before, I hit it in the water three days in a row there, so we’re not the best (of) friends,” Toms said. “You know, to make a nice putt there in the end that I had to make, that was the difference.”
Toms had a 68 on Friday and a 65 on Saturday to establish a 36-hole lead. Karlsson opened with a 71 before posting a 64 on Saturday.
Karlsson’s final round featured four birdies, just one bogey and an eagle at the par-5 second hole.
“Obviously it’s nice to knock in a putt, especially because it was way too hard, so I was very happy the hole got in the way,” Karlsson said. “That felt like a bonus.
“My own game, obviously I would have liked to be one or two shots better, but that’s the way it goes. David putted fantastic today and holed all the putts he needed to. Every credit to him. I can’t complain about what I’ve done the last two days or anything like that, so I’m very, very happy with how I’m playing.”
Gene Sauers shot a final-round 64, the lowest number of the day, to tie for third at 12 under with Australian Mark Hensby (65). Doug Barron (65) finished fifth at 11 under.
–Field Level Media
