Jason Kokrak holds off Jordan Spieth

FORT WORTH, Texas – After a lengthy break caused by the pandemic, the Charles Schwab Challenge marked golf’s return in 2020, but without fans, the vibe was predictably subdued.

Those who attended this year’s 75th anniversary of the event were looking to let a year of pent-up emotions loose in celebration of native son Jordan Spieth, who grew up less than an hour from Colonial Country Club.

Jason Kokrak:A longer putter has made all the difference

The story was all but written on Saturday – Spieth held a one-stroke edge after 54 holes and, aside from one single competitor, it looked like he couldn’t be caught.

But somebody forgot to hand Jason Kokrak the script.

The jovial Ohioan got a little riled early, but then bounced back and put on an impressive display of big drives, solid putting and resilience, grabbing his second PGA Tour title by finishing at 14 under for the four-round event. Spieth was second at 12 under.

Kokrak – a Xavier University product who calls the Cleveland suburb of Hudson, Ohio, his hometown – took the lead on the front nine while Spieth struggled through the three-hole Horrible Horseshoe, a tricky area that circles the driving range. Spieth made bogey on two of three while Kokrak dropped a curling 23-foot putt on No. 5 to jump in front.

But it looked like the wheels might fall off for Kokrak on No. 7, when he needed two tries to get out of a greenside bunker, then angrily heaved his ball into nearby trees – perhaps sensing he’d missed an opportunity while Spieth was misfiring. Instead, Kokrak settled down, got back on top with a birdie on No. 11 – one of only two par 5s at Colonial – and watched as Spieth made par.