Satoshi Kodaira claims maiden PGA Tour win in RBC Heritage play-off
By Ali Stafford
Last Updated: 15/04/18 8:58pm
Satoshi Kodaira claimed a maiden PGA Tour title with play-off victory at the RBC Heritage, as Ian Poulter’s hopes faded during the final round.
Final leaderboard
Kodaira - playing several groups ahead of the final threeball - posted a five-under 66 in the best of the conditions at Harbour Town Golf Links to set the clubhouse target at 12 under.
Si Woo Kim held a two-shot lead at the turn but posted three bogeys in strong winds on the back nine, with a missed birdie chance from six feet at the par-four last taking the contest to extra holes.
The pair returned to the 18th and both parred their next two visits to the hole, before Kodaira drained a 25-foot birdie at the third extra hole - the par-three 17th - to complete an unlikely victory.
Overnight leader Poulter was two off the pace at the turn but saw his challenge end on the back nine, where the Englishman posted four bogeys in a five-hole stretch on his way to a four-over 75 to end the week tied-seventh.
Kodaira birdied his opening three holes in a front-nine 33 and followed a birdie-three at the 10th with back-to-back gains from the 14th to close the gap on Kim at the top of the leaderboard.
The Japanese star bogeyed the 17th hole and made a two-putt par at the last to close a joint-low round of the day, as Kim turned in 33 and still held a two-shot cushion with six holes to go.
Kim struggled with his putter as he missed an eight-footer for birdie at the 13th, three-putted the 15th for bogey and squandered another chance from inside 10 feet at the par-four next.
The Players champion couldn't get up-and-down from a bunker at the 17th to save par and failed to convert a six-footer for victory at the last, with playing partner Luke List finishing a shot back in tied-third after missing a 12-foot birdie opportunity at the 18th.
List was joined on 11 under by early starter Bryson DeChambeau, who birdied his final four holes, with Webb Simpson and Billy Horschel a further stroked adrift in a share of fifth place.
