Harris English and Matt Kuchar win second Franklin Templeton Shootout title

By Andy Charles

SKYSPORTS.COM

Harris English (left) and Matt Kuchar (right) are presented with their trophy by tournament host Greg Norman who looks as if he wants to hold on to it!

Harris English and Matt Kuchar claimed a one-stroke victory in the Franklin Templeton Shootout in Florida on Saturday.

English and Kuchar finished the pairs event with a seven-under 65 to finish on 28 under 188 for the 54-hole event and see off the challenge of Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly on an exciting final day when better-ball rules were in play.

It was English who played the most important shot of the day, when he creamed a superb second shot into the par-five 17th hole and made a 15-foot eagle putt to move into top spot.

Kelly had a chance to level things on the final green but his birdie putt slipped past the hole and that left Kuchar to finish off his par and claim the first prize of $770,000 for he and English to split.

Charley Hoffman and Billy Horschel finished in third place, one stroke further back after a superb closing round of 61.

"It was back and forth all day," Kuchar said. "We got off to a nice start, but we knew the battle was on when Jerry eagled the first."

Kuchar and English were winning the event for the second time, having also prevailed in 2013 before finishing runners-up in 2014 and last year.
Russell Knox and Luke Donald finished T9 in the small field but they earned $78,750 (£62,627) each - nice work if you can get it!

FINAL SCORES AND EARNINGS Place Team Round Score Earnings 1 2 3 1 Harris English and Matt Kuchar 188 -15 -6 -7 -28 $385,000 each 2 Jerry Kelly and Steve Stricker 189 -16 -4 -7 -27 $242,500 each 3 Charley Hoffman and Billy Horschel 190 -11 -4 -11 -26 $145,000 each 4 Kevin Chappell and  Kevin Kisner 192 -12 -4 -8 -24 $115,000 each T5 Charles Howell III and Rory Sabbatini 195 -13 -3 -5 -21 $91,666 each T5 Sean O’Hair and Kenny Perry 195 -9 -4 -8 -21 $91,666 each T5 Smylie Kaufman and Justin Thomas 195 -9 -6 -6 -21 $91,666 each 8 Jason Dufner and Brandt Snedeker 196 -12 -2 -6 -20 $82,500 each T9 Daniel Berger and K.J. Choi 199 -9 -1 -7 -17 $78,750 each T9 Luke Donald and Russell    Knox 199 -12 -1 -4 -17 $78,750 each T11 Mike Weir and Gary Woodland 200 -9 1 -8 -16 $73,750 each T11 Bryson DeChambeau and Lexi  Thompson 200 -10 -1 -5 -16 $73,750 each

First Round, Scramble - Each player hits a drive on every hole and the best drive is selected. Each player then plays a second shot from the spot where the selected drive lays, and the best second shot is selected. This process is repeated until the hole is completed.

Second Round, Modified Alternate Shot - Each player hits a drive on every hole and one drive is selected. The player whose drive is NOT selected hits the second shot, and they alternate shots until the ball is holed.

Final Round, Better Ball - Each player plays through every hole using his own ball. The player whose score is the lowest on each hole will be the team score for that hole.

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