What was hinted at from the very beginning has now become a reality: Nico Echavarria has won the Zozo Championship title after a thrilling battle until the last day.
The talented golfer triumphed over Max Greyserman and Justin Thomas, delighting fans with his impressive performance. The 30-year-old Colombian secured his first victory since 2022, marking a great comeback.
While some expected Justin Thomas to shine and take the win, Echavarria made sure to disrupt those plans. In a post-victory interview, he stressed that his experience from two years ago helped him realize he could compete with top players. He acknowledged that racing against such strong golfers wasn't easy, especially after some less successful performances.
Reflecting on his past struggles, Echavarria is happy to have reached more positive moments, celebrating his two victories on the prestigious PGA Tour.
Justin Thomas, probably the most recognizable name in the final round, admitted that its not easy to accept such a defeat, especially since he had some impressive moments during the tournament. He takes pride in how he played and in the moments when he demonstrated he still has the quality to compete with everyone. However, he acknowledged that there were times he could have performed better. This experience will certainly be valuable as he looks ahead to future tournaments.
Justin Thomas expressed that he feels a combination of disappointment and frustration, stating that although he didn't win, he played well enough to be a winner. He emphasized that he is following the right path with his game and is determined to keep improving. Thomas highlighted the importance of consistently putting himself in contention for victories moving forward.
The 31-year-old had several positive moments this season, but many feel that the American could have achieved even more at times. He started the season impressively, finishing T6 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. RBC Heritage was also a positive experience for the well-known golfer, as he ended up T5. Justin performed well at the PGA Championship, finishing T8, and played similarly at the Travelers Championship, where he secured another T5.
However, aside from these finishes, he hasn't had the results we're accustomed to seeing from him. Nonetheless, Justin has repeatedly proven his caliber as a golfer, and it's clear that small adjustments in the future could lead him to victory.
Max Greyserman is another name seeking his first PGA title. Although many didn't expect him to dominate the tournament, the 29-year-old has shown in recent PGA Tour events that he has the qualities to compete with the best. At times, Greyserman felt he was lacking the luck factor and admitted he could have performed better. He has great respect for his opponents and stresses that Echavarria demonstrated the most skill of all.
Zozo Championship history and Echavarria stats
The Zozo Championship is a golf tournament held as part of the PGA Tour since 2019, with past winners including Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay, Hideki Matsuyama, Scottie Scheffler, and Nico Echavarria.
Looking at the names alongside which Echavarria found himself, the 30-year-old has every reason to be happy with his performance and the victory he has been waiting for over the past two years. Being mentioned alongside players like Matsuyama, Scheffler, and Woods speaks volumes about how well he played in the tournament. Training, self-belief, and perseverance proved crucial for the Colombian, and this victory will serve as a huge boost, providing him the opportunity to continue in the same rhythm on future PGA Tours. Theres no doubt that the Colombian golfer can maintain this pace moving forward.
The golfer, who turned pro in 2017, hasn't had many standout results this year. He kicked off the season strong, finishing T4 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Since then, his only significant finish was a T11 at the Black Desert Championship on the 13th of this month.
Nico Echavarria had a tough run in the majors this year, finishing 54th at the U.S. Open with a score of 290 (+10) and missing the cut at The Masters and The Open Championship.
