61-year-old Rocco Mediate won the 2024 Constellation Furyk and Friends on the PGA Tour Champions on Sunday, October 6. The American golfer outshined Bob Estes in a sudden-death playoff to win the tournament. With the victory, he became the 14th oldest golfer to win on the Champions Tour.
After three rounds of the tournament, Mediate tied with Estes at 12-under. Estes was in the lead after the second round but shot 71 on Sunday, finishing in a two-way tie with Mediate.
They headed for a playoff, but both made par on the first hole, resulting in a sudden-death playoff to determine the winner. On the second playoff hole, Mediate made par, while Estes bogeyed, giving Mediate the win.
This marks the 14th professional win of Rocco Mediate's career and his fifth on the PGA Champions Tour. He previously won the Sanford International (2019), Senior PGA Championship (2016), Shaw Charity Classic (2013), and Allianz Championship (2013) on the circuit.
Meanwhile, at the Constellation Furyk and Friends Championship, Estes settled for second place after losing in the playoff, followed by Greg Chambers. Retief Goosen also fared well last week, tying for fourth place with Tim Petrovic, Thongchai Jaidee, Darren Clarke, and Scott McCarron. Thomas Bjørn finished in a five-way tie for 10th place with Freddie Jacobson, Gene Sauers, Justin Leonard, and Steven Alker.
"This is one of our best events"- Rocco Mediate reflects on his victory at the 2024 Constellation Furyk and Friends
Rocco Mediate opened up about his phenomenal victory at the 2024 Constellation Furyk and Friends. The American golfer dedicated his win to his nine-year-old daughter, Francesca. Speaking in the post-round press conference, he said (via ASAP Sports):
"Amazing. Like I said it was for the little one. Gets her a little trophy which is cool just to win anything, and this is one of our best events for sure."
Mediate also opened up about his playoff with Estes and said (via ASAP Sports):
"I expect that. You expect that. I even told Pete, expect this to go in, and it did. To make that one, I mean, I don't know what you can call it, just read it a little offside right and it moved. I hit it. That's what it did. It was never going to be short. The putts in regulation I hit exactly like I wanted. "
"That's how it goes. Just pop the edge and -- but then, yeah, that was cool that that happened. But you either make it or you don't, so it's not like it's going to -- it had some pace because it had to," he added.
Rocco Mediate shot a 67 to kick off the senior tour event, followed by another round of 66, and finished with a 71 in the final. He earned $315,000 in prize money from the win.