Last January, William Mouw (-10), a newcomer to the PGA Tour from the Korn Ferry Tour, experienced a tough moment during the second round of the American Express. His ball landed in the dreaded bunker on the 16th hole of the Pete Dye Stadium Course at PGA West, with a terrifying six-metre high slope, and he entered a loop of errors that led him to need 13 strokes to finally hole his ball. An octuple bogey that leaves a lasting mark. But today, just over half a year later, the young golfer from Upland, who shone during his college years at Pepperdine University, has redeemed himself in a big way.
He started the final round of the ISCO Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, in 25th place on the leaderboard, far from the fight for victory. But on an unforgettable Sunday, where he was the best in almost all game statistics, he signed the best scorecard of his career to stage a historic comeback and take the win. A scorecard of 61 strokes with nine flawless birdies, the best of his professional career on the circuit (surpassing by four strokes the 65 he signed at the Puerto Rico Open), which allowed him to make the most of one of those tournaments that the middle class of the PGA Tour has marked on their particular calendar.
Coinciding with the Genesis Scottish Open, where most of the tour’s stars competed this week, players who usually find it difficult to fight for victories have a golden opportunity to earn points, win a lot of money, and secure exemptions to ensure their future. That’s what Mouw achieved, climbing 24 places, debuting as a winner on the PGA Tour in his rookie season, taking home a cheque for $720,000, shooting up to 83rd place in the FedEx, already in the fight to be in the playoffs, and above all, securing two years of a card, until 2027, and a ticket to next year’s PGA Championship.
A comeback that was only in danger in the final moments of this final round when his compatriot Paul Peterson (-9) pushed to try to force a playoff he couldn’t reach. Two great performances that do not overshadow, by any means, the sensational tournament played by the Spaniard Manuel Elvira (-7), who leaves Kentucky with a spectacular third place in solitary after signing a final round of 66 strokes, playing very solidly, minimizing errors and relying on accuracy with the putter. A fantastic result that makes him the best of 50 players from the DP World Tour in the tournament, allowing him to earn very valuable points for the Race to Dubai and take home a cash prize of $276,000.
"I got a baby girl on the way, she's due in September. So this one's for her."
A special win for the Mouw family @ISCOChamp 🥹 pic.twitter.com/2IpyZPWs8X
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 13, 2025
The Cantabrian golfer came close, with a decisive stretch of two key par putts on the 13th and 16th and two birdies on the 14th and 15th this Sunday, to achieving a tremendous breakthrough by securing a victory that would have automatically granted him a PGA Tour card for the remainder of the season and all of 2026. But like Iván Cantero (+1), who didn’t have his day today, Alfredo García-Heredia and Alejandro del Rey will have another opportunity at next week’s Barracuda. Ángel Ayora (+4), who was second during the tournament, faded on Friday and Sunday and finishes tied in 50th position.
