It was tough, but the Austrian finally managed to do it. For the first time in his PGA Tour career, Josef “Sepp” Straka is a multiple-time winner in a single season. The University of Georgia alum braved a tough final day and carded a two-under par to clinch the much-needed victory at the Truist Championship in Philadelphia. Straka had started the day level on points with Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry, but held strong till the last hole to claim victory by two strokes.

Straka and Lowry were neck-and-neck through the first fifteen holes at the Wissahickon Course. Both of the Europeans birdied on 15, and fans were expecting a tough playoff competition between the duo, as it was hard to separate them. However, the Irish golfer slipped up in the crucial moment. Lowry, chasing his fourth victory on the PGA Tour, just like Straka, proceeded to bogey the sixteenth hole. However, he gave himself another shot at the title.

On the 18th hole, Lowry needed a birdie to force a playoff, but his drive off the tee proved to be detrimental. The Irish golfer’s tee shot ended up outside the fairway and right next to the hospitality tent. Not a great start. He ended up bogeying the hole, handing Straka a comfortable 2-stroke victory and allowing Justin Thomas to creep up to T2. Comfortable is just one way to describe it, and certainly not how Straka himself would. “It’s hard to eat, you just feel kinda nauseous. Can’t feel your arms, legs, whatever – you’re just kind of fighting through it. But that’s what makes it fun,” Straka told Amanda Balionis after the victory.

This is also great news for another person involved in the melee. That will be Drew Mathers, Sepp Straka’s caddie for the Truist Championship. Mathers was supposed to be at the US Open Qualifying Tournament, but decided to pull out of it to be a bagman for his good friend Sepp Straka for the Truist Championship. The move paid huge dividends to both, as they got to celebrate a spectacular victory at the signature event and $3.6 million in prize money. A hefty bonus could be in the works for Mathers.

Straka’s victory was well-received by the golfing fraternity. The Austrian has been delivering strong performances of late, and with this victory, he joins Rory McIlroy as the only multiple-time winner in this season’s PGA Tour. He is currently right behind the Northern Irish golfer in the FedEx Cup standings, which could pay huge dividends nearing the end of the season.

Golf fans go gaga over Sepp Straka’s victory

Fans on social media were full of praise for the 32-year-old. “More to come for Sepp, he’s got game!” One fan tweeted after his victory. The victory means that the Austrian will be heading to the PGA Championship with a spring in his step and a firm goal in his mind. The Austrian has had a below-par record at the Majors, having only finished top 10 twice in his career. His appearance at the Masters this year was abysmal, failing to make the cut after carding 5 over par across two days at Augusta.

He would love to maintain his momentum heading to Quail Hollow. One fan put it in simple words, stating, “Sepp’s on a tear, love to see it.” Straka has made 12 cuts of the 14 events so far and has cracked the top 15 at 10 of those events. Talk about consistency.

Another area where this is going to help him is with regard to Ryder Cup selection. With teams slowly forming shape, Straka will be vying for the automatic qualification spot rather than relying on being a captain’s pick, similar to two years ago. When he started at the Truist Championship, he was 20th in the official Ryder Cup rankings list for Team Europe’s players.

However, a crucial victory at Philadelphia could mean that his position gets vaulted significantly. “Sepp is going to be one heck of a formidable challenge at the RYDER CUP.” One fan tweeted. “Big congrats – hope he makes the Team this fall – NO way to Bypass a Champ Like him!” Very few players could showcase multiple title victories this season, and that includes all the other golfing tours. Straka’s presence will be a key factor for Team Europe in New York this year, especially considering it is away from home.

Despite the T2 finish, Shane Lowry would be ruing missed opportunities. The Irish golfer hasn’t won an individual title since the 2019 Open Championship, and this will be his second runner-up finish this season, after losing out to Rory McIlroy at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Lowry had previously finished second to Straka at the 2022 Honda Classic as well. The Irishman’s last PGA Tour title came at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, where he teamed up with the 2025 Masters winner and won via a playoff. This was what prompted a fan to tweet, “Lowry can’t win without Rory!”

What do you think of Sepp Straka’s performance at the Truist Championship? Does it give him an edge heading to Quail Hollow?