Kisner-Brown and Blixt-Smith head to Zurich Classic playoff
AVONDALE, LA. — Kevin Kisner chipped in for eagle on the 18th hole as darkness fell Sunday night at the Zurich Classic golf tournament, lifting him and teammate Scott Brown into a Monday playoff with Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith.
Kisner’s chip-in — which skipped on a wet green, hit the pin and dropped in from nearly 95 feet — forced the 23-year-old Smith to make a 1½-foot birdie putt to remain in contention for his first PGA Tour victory.
They were at 27 under through four rounds at the TPC Louisiana in the PGA Tour’s first team event in 36 years.
Blixt, a Swede, and Smith, an Australian, haven’t bogeyed a hole yet, and appeared to have the victory wrapped up before Kisner’s chip-in, which whipped the diehard crowd around the final green into a frenzy while Kisner waved both arms in celebration.
The round finished in barely playable darkness because of a more than six-hour delay caused by thunderstorms.
Each player on the winning team will take home $1.02 million and earn 400 FedExCup points.
Blixt and Smith led after the second and third rounds, but had to overcome a remarkable surge by Brown and Kisner, who stormed into the lead with birdies on the first eight holes and 10 of their first 11.
Blixt made a 5-foot birdie putt on the 16th, and Smith did the same on 17 to put them back in the lead.
Smith then dropped a 57-yard approach on 18 within 2 feet, seemingly dooming Kisner and Brown to second place. Instead, both teams will be back at it at 8 a.m. on the 18th hole to start the playoff.
Kisner and Brown each have one PGA Tour victory. The 33-year-old Blixt has won twice, but not since 2013.
Kelly Kraft and Kevin Tway finished third at 23 under.
The players on each team alternated shots in the first and third rounds. In the second and final rounds, each player played their own ball and each team took the best score per hole. The playoff will be in the same format as the final round.