Satoshi Kodiara’s winning 24 and 1/2 foot putt to win the RBC Heritage.
Japanese Tour professional Satoshi Kodiara came out of the clubhouse to win the 50th RBC Heritage with a birdie on the third playoff hole, defeating Korean Si Woo Kim.
Si Woo Kim reacts to his birdie miss on #18 which forced a playoff.
Kodiara carded a 5-under 66 on Sunday, two days after carding the lowest round of the tournament with a second-round 63 on Friday.
Si Woo Kim, who held the lead most of the afternoon playing in the final group, opened the door making bogey on the 17th hole, and missing a birdie putt on the 18th that would have won him the tournament.
Both players made par on the 18th hole to force the action to the 17th, and Kodiara sank a 24 and 1/2 foot putt for birdie to force Kim to match. Kim’s attempt from 16 feet came up short to give Kodiara his first win on the PGA Tour.
Satoshi Kodiara receives the Tartan Jacket in the Harbour Town Clubhouse
An eight-time winner on the Japanese Tour, Kodiara can now accept a full two-year membership to the PGA Tour following the victory.
Kim looked to have sucked the drama out of the final threesome, as Ian Poulter and Luke List had their troubles all day.
Poulter made bogey on five holes on the back nine, scoring 75 to finish at -9, which tied him for seventh place. List bogeyed four on the back nine, and missed a 12-footer on 18 that would have put him in the playoff. The California native finished at -11, tied for third.
The South Carolina contingent, after having a solid first two days, struggled when the weekend hit.
Bill Haas and Kevin Kisner tied for seventh place at -9, shooting the two lowest rounds for Palmetto State natives.
Dustin Johnson, playing Harbour Town for the first time since 2009, saved his best round for last, shooting 67 on Sunday to finish tied for 16th at -7.
Lucas Glover (-5), defending champion Wesley Bryan (-3), Jonathan Byrd (-1) and Clemson amateur Doc Redman (-1) were the remaining golfers with South Carolina ties who finished under par.
Kodiara wins $1.206 million for the RBC Heritage victory and gains entry into the The Players Championship, the PGA Championship and next year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. He becomes the first Asian-born winner of the RBC Heritage, and the first Japanese-born winner on tour since Hideki Matsuyama won last year’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
Satoshi Kodiara Press Conference (Answers through an interpreter)
RBC Heritage Champion Satoshi Kodiara receives congratulations from South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster.