FORT WORTH, Texas – Hattiesburg native Davis Riley won the Charles Schwab Challenge, marking his first solo PGA tour victory on Sunday.
"I know coming into today that it was obviously going to be tough," Riley told CBS Sports. "It's a very tough golf course, and when you have got the world's No. 1 breathing down your neck, you know it's going to be difficult there to the last hole. I'm proud of the way I just stayed in it. I fought some adversity early. I just hung in there, and I played some really good golf while coming down the stretch. I'm just super excited and super proud of myself."
Riley won by five strokes over the world's No. 1 players, Scottie Scheffler, and Keegan Bradley. Riley finished with 14-under 226 over four on the par-70 Colonial Country Club. Riley shot an even par on the final day, while Bradley had a closing 67, and Scheffler shot 71. Riley posted rounds 66-64-66-70 to finish the week at 13 under, the only player to reach double-digits under par.
The Presbyterian Christian High School product's win at historic Colonial, which had been completely restored since last year's tournament, earned him $1.638 million, the traditional winner's plaid jacket, and a fully restored and modernized 1975 Stingray car.
Riley's most highlight highlight included a 27-foot birdie at the 229-yard par-3 No. 4 that is known as the "Horrible Horshoe" and considered the toughest three-hole stretch on the course.
"I'm looking to get the season going a little bit to get a win and kind of catapult me and hopefully set me up for a good rest of the year," Riley said. "I'm beyond excited."
The victory is Riley's second career win after winning the Zurich Classic last summer. Riley also moves to No. 55 in the FedEx Cup challenge.
