Matsuyama Out-lasts Simpson For Second Straight Phoenix Crown
Muhammad Rameez Published February 06, 2017 | 09:05 AM
LOS ANGELES, Feb 6, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 06th Feb, 2017 ) - Japan's Hideki Matsuyama won his second straight Phoenix Open title on Sunday, and just like last year he needed a fourth playoff hole to do it.
Matsuyama holed a 12-foot birdie putt at the fourth playoff hole, the par-four 17th at TPC Scottsdale, to edge former US Open champion Webb Simpson. Simpson's 20-foot birdie attempt to win at the third playoff hole, the par-four 10th, had stopped one roll of the ball short.
Simpson charged up the leaderboard with a seven-under par 64, with birdies at 17 and 18 giving him the clubhouse lead at 17-under 267. Matsuyama had his chances to seize the win in regulation, but it went to a playoff when his 20-foot putt at the 72nd hole stopped inches short.
He closed with a five-under par 66 to join Simpson on 267, one stroke in front of South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen.
The duo took advantage of the struggles of overnight leader An Byeong-Hun, who started the day with a one-stroke lead over Scotland's Martin Laird but finished with five bogeys and three birdies in a 73 that left him in sixth place on 270.
Rickie Fowler, bested in a playoff by Matsuyama in Phoenix last year, fired a 65 to share fourth with J.J. Spaun (67) on 269. World number five Matsuyama notched his fifth victory in his last nine starts worldwide, a stretch that included his triumph in the prestigious World Golf Championships HSBC Champions at Shanghai last October.
"It was a struggle, especially that playoff, but I'm really happy to win," he said. Matsuyama was making his fourth consecutive start in Phoenix and has never finished outside the top five. He thrives in the rowdy atmosphere of a tournament that attracts mammoth crowds.
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