NORTON, Mass. – Kevin Chappell closed with an even-par 71 at TPC Boston and overtook Charley Hoffman for the final qualifying spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
Hoffman, who finished with a 68 and was tied for 47th, had held the 10th spot on the U.S. list coming into this week, but dropped to 11th, and will now need to wait until Wednesday when U.S. captain Steve Stricker announces his two picks.
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“I was nervous and excited and unaware of what was going on. It’s something I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but I’ve also had to make a 4-footer to keep my job, and that was way worse,” Chappell said. “As a competitor, you want to accomplish these things and accomplish these goals. If I’m lucky enough to do that, it would be quite an honor.”
Chappell and Hoffman both finished with 4,369 points, Chappell a fraction of a point ahead of him. Chappell bogeyed the par-5 18th, but benefited from Russell Henley making bogey on two of his final three holes and Kevin Streelman making birdie at 18. With FedExCup points determining Presidents Cup standings, the late shifts gave Chappell the slightest of margins needed to qualify.
Asked if he has any “unfinished business” at Liberty National, where he took a lead into the back nine on Sunday in 2013 only to play his last eight holes in 7 over on his way to a tie for 15th, Chappell made a clear statement: “I don’t know. Who’s got the course record there?”
That would be Chappell, who moved into the hunt at the playoff opener on the New Jersey course in ’13 with a third-round 62.
Here’s a look at the 10 players who qualified for the U.S. team:
1. Dustin Johnson
2. Jordan Spieth
3. Justin Thomas
4. Rickie Fowler
5. Daniel Berger
6. Brooks Koepka
7. Kevin Kisner
8. Patrick Reed
9. Matt Kuchar
10. Kevin Chappell
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11. Charley Hoffman
12. Brian Harman
13. Jason Dufner
14. Gary Woodland
15. Phil Mickelson
Source: Internet
