RBC Heritage: CT Pan wins first PGA Tour title

CT Pan became only the second players from Chinese Taipei, or Taiwan as it is better known, to win on the PGA Tour and the first since 1987 when TC Chen won the Genesis Open. The diminutive Pan held his nerve over the final few holes to take the crown and earn himself a $1.2 million pay day.

Dustin Johnson had led by one going in to the final round but faded away with a disappointing final round 77. That opened up the way for others and at one point five players topped the leader board on 10 under. 

The 36 hole leader, Shane Lowry, made a great start to his final round, racing in to a two shot lead after 3 birdies in the first six holes. However, a bogey at the 9th followed by a double at the 12th saw him slip back and he would eventually finish on -10, two back.

It was Matt Kuchar, a local favourite and the 2014 Heritage champion, who pushed Pan closest. To the inevitable cheers of “Kooch” the American birdied the final hole to set the target to beat at -11. Pan held his nerve however. A birdie at the 16th took him to 12 under and two solid pars at the 17th and 18th saw him home.

Our own Ian Poulter had a disappointing finish to the Heritage. Paired with Johnson in the final group, and one back from the lead, he could only muster 2 birdies in his final round of 73 which left him back on -7 in a tie for 10th.

Elsewhere, The English pair of Eddie Pepperell and Tommy Fleetwood both had final rounds of 70 leaving them on -6 and -5 respectively. Luke Donald finished on -3 and the Swede Alex Noren -4, the same mark as Dustin Johnson whose error strewn back nine saw him plummet down the leader board to finish tied 28th.

Propping up the leader board was Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira, the defending champion. Never in contention and only just making the cut, the Japanese had a day to very much forget with a final round 82. A year is a long time in golf!

And Another Thing...

3 Minute Rule - What 3 Minute Rule?