K.H. Lee Repeats as AT&T Byron Nelson Champion
K.H. Lee’s defense of his 2021 AT&T Byron Nelson title culminated in a one shot victory on Sunday at TPC Craig Ranch as he became the first champion to repeat at the event since Tom Watson won three consecutive years (1978-80) when the event was contested at Preston Trail Golf Club. Sam Snead and Jack Nicklaus are the only other two golfers to win back-to-back in this tournament.
Lee finished at 26-under, bringing his two-year total at TPC Craig Ranch to 51-under.
“It’s amazing feeling,” Lee said. “So I can’t believe, still feels like dreaming, but last year and this year still make good memories.
“Last year feels like more rain and rain delay, different conditions,” Lee continued. “But I remember walking over the bridge, so hopefully I want to have the same feeling over the bridge, walking over the bridge, but feels like so amazing when I walk over there.”
Lee topped three-time major champion Jordan Spieth by one shot.
Spieth’s solo second is his best finish in his hometown PGA Tour event.
“I love playing at home, I would love to win it some day,” Spieth said. “I had a good chance here, I don’t think I ever really had the lead on my own, I think I had a putt to maybe get the lead on my own on 10. But it would be nice to close one out. But, again, shot 5-under, wasn’t playing easy today and a guy went out and shot 8-under right in front of us. So sometimes that happens.”
Olympic gold medalist Xander Schauffele had the round of the day with a 61 that put him as the leader in the clubhouse on Sunday after making the cut on the number on Friday.
“I tried to birdie as many holes as possible,” Schaffele said. “Just kind of even par through 4 and the rest is history. That hole-out really got the day going and, yeah, I felt like I’ve been playing some really good golf since we made the cut.”
Schauffele ended up in a tie for fifth with Justin Thomas and DFW-area resident Ryan Palmer at 23-under, one shot behind Sebastian Munoz and Hideki Matsuyama.
Masters champions and world No. 1 ranked player Scottie Scheffler finished at 19-under in a tie for 15th.
Next up is the season’s second major, the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in Tulsa.
