SUB 60 HEADLINES

In a dramatic finish at the ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP, Colombia's Nico Echavarria captured his second PGA TOUR victory with a final-round 67 at ACCORDIA GOLF Narashino Country Club, edging out Justin Thomas and Max Greyserman by a single shot. Setting the tournament scoring record along the way, Echavarria's clutch three-foot putt on the 72nd hole sealed the deal at 20-under par, earning him not only the trophy but also his first invitation to the 2025 Masters. A mid-week putter grip change proved pivotal for the 30-year-old, who remarkably has converted his only two PGA TOUR top-10 finishes into victories.

For Thomas, the runner-up finish marked another close call in his quest to end a victory drought dating back to the 2022 PGA Championship. Despite leading the field in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green and carding only one bogey across all 72 holes, JT watched several crucial putts burn the edges down the stretch on Sunday. The former World No. 1, who's expecting his first child in the coming weeks, showed signs of frustration but remained optimistic about his game, noting "The stuff I've been working on, everything I've been doing is obviously the right stuff and I'm still going the right direction."

FROM PINSTRIPES TO PIN SEEKER

In a fascinating intersection of baseball and golf history, Sam Byrd stands as the only athlete to both play in a World Series and win on the PGA TOUR. Nicknamed "Babe Ruth's Legs" for his role as the legendary slugger's defensive replacement with the Yankees, Byrd went on to claim six PGA TOUR victories and finished runner-up in the 1945 PGA Championship.

Perhaps most intriguingly, Byrd's baseball connection influenced modern golf instruction – he adapted a batting tip from Ruth himself, using a handkerchief under the lead arm to maintain "connection" between arm and body, a teaching principle that still resonates today. Read more here about this remarkable two-sport pioneer.

SOCIAL OF THE WEEK

WINNERS FROM LAST WEEK: CORE FOUR

OFFICIAL WORLD GOLF RANKINGS: TOP 60

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