Tim Widing wins 2024 LECOM Suncoast Classic

A nice Indian food dinner the night before, and a listen of the Swedish national hockey team’s intro music the morning of, was the mental reset Tim Widing needed to perform well on the final day of the LECOM Suncoast Classic at Lakewood National Golf Club. 

Entering the final day of the Korn Ferry Tour event, Widing was 15 under par, good for a third-place tie alongside Kris Ventura. The pair was three shots back of leader Patrick Cover. In Widing’s mind, that’s exactly where he wanted to be.

“It's always a little easier coming from behind," Widing said. "You kind of get to play a little more aggressive."

Widing, 26, would back up his theory, coming from behind to win the Suncoast Classic in a two-hole playoff: on the first hole tying Steven Fisk and knocking out Cover, and on the second hole beating Fisk after making a par putt and forcing Fisk to make his, which Fisk could not. 

The good night’s rest had Widing ready for Sunday. Widing sank six birdies and had a single bogey on his way to a five-under-par 66, putting him at 20 under par for the tournament. His last birdie came on hole No. 17, and it was a big one: As Cover and Fisk struggled down the stretch — each going one over par on the final three holes after entering them 21 under par — the birdie on No. 17 allowed Widing to get into the playoff with them. 

"It (the playoff) was just kind of like before a tournament, just do a little bit of prep on the range, warm up and kind of get back to that focus," Widing said. "I just finished 15 minutes before that so it wasn't really hard transitioning to that. I was just happy I got a shot." 

Widing showed little emotion after making his par putt on the second playoff hole, but after Fisk missed his par putt, Widing hugged his wife Jazmine Kelleher and shed a tear, which he quickly wiped with a finger. Kelleher was supposed to be on a 7:30 p.m. flight to San Francisco for a work trip, Widing said, but she decided to stay and watch him finish his win. 

Seeing Kelleher tear up and run toward him, Widing said, was when the totality of the moment hit him. The Suncoast Classic victory is Widing’s first career win since turning professional in 2021. His previous best finish came at the Astara Golf Championship in February, where he finished tied for eighth (15 under par). Widing will take home $180,000 of the tournament's $1 million purse, and it positions him well in his quest for a PGA Tour card. Widing, who entered the week No. 23 on the Korn Ferry Tour points list, is now projected to be No. 2, trailing only Fisk. 

"I'm speechless," Widing said. "It's something I've practiced for every day, something you dream of. It's a relief to finally pull it off. You keep telling yourself that you're close, but winning golf tournaments is tough and I'm just so happy I was able to pull it off. This is incredible."