CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A strange week at Quail Hollow held one more surprise Sunday when 22-year-old rookie Derek Ernst won the Wells Fargo Championship in a playoff.
Ernst was playing only his ninth PGA Tour event. He was ranked No. 1,207 in the world. None of that mattered when he hit into 4 feet for birdie on the 18th hole for a 2-under 70 to get into a playoff with David Lynn of England. It was one of only four birdies in the final round on the closing hole.
In the playoff, he hit his approach into 15 feet as Lynn took four shots to reach the green. Ernst won with a par.
Phil Mickelson had a one-shot lead with four holes to play, but made bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes.