News
Latest > Hideki Matsuyama wins the Phoenix Open
Feb 6th, 2017
Hideki Matsuyama wins the Phoenix Open
On fourth hole of sudden death play off
Words: John Dean Photography: Getty Images
Webb Simpson charged today, and shot the best score of the day with a seven under 64, which shot him up the leaderboard from 11th to share the lead with defending champion Hideki Matsuyama, who posted a five under 66, and narrowly missed a birdie putt on the 18th for outright victory.
Then it was sudden–death play off time. On their first run back up the 18th both parred the hole. And then they both parred again, before moving onto the third play off hole, the par 4 10th.
And again nothing could seperate them, and two more pars were carded.
Then came the break through for the defending champion Hideki Matsuyama. He birdied the foruth play off hole, whilst Simpson could only make a par, and it was all over.
World number five Matsuyama was seeking his fifth victory in his last eight starts worldwide, and he nailed it here. There's form, and there's form, but this is just an incredible run.
South African Louis Oosthuzien finished third. He also shot a six under 65, which included three biridies in the closing five holes.
Overnight leader Byeong Hun An could only muster a two over 73, which included four bogeys on the back nine.
Scotland's Martin Laird, who started the day one shot behind leader An, could also only post a 73 and finished T7 with Daniel Berger.
Others to mention in dispatches include Ricki Fowler, who shot a six under 65 to finish T4 with J.J Spaun.
Right, it's now Superbowl time. Let the good times roll. I should have followed form and backed Hideki. But form isn't everything as the Patriots are now showing.
Related:
Sergio Garcia wins the Dubai Desert Classic