No way he was wasting this shot
Woodland overcomes knack for finishing second with Phoenix Open title
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Gary Woodland beat Chez Reavie with a par on the first hole of a playoff Sunday in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
Woodland birdied three of the last four holes for a 7-under 64 to finish at 18-under 266 at TPC Scottsdale.
Reavie closed with a 66. After a bogey on the par-3 16th, the former Arizona State player chipped to three feet for birdie on the short par-4 17th and ran in a 20-footer on the par-4 18th to force the PGA Tour’s fourth straight playoff.
“I’m kind of overwhelmed right now,” Woodland said. “I’ve played well the last five years, I think I had six second-place finishes. I just haven’t put four rounds together. That was the struggle last year.”
Woodland celebrated with wife Gabby and son Jaxson Lynn, who was born a month premature in June. They were expecting twins, but lost one of the fetuses in a miscarriage.
“For him to be here, it’s obviously a miracle,” Woodland said. “I’m just so excited to share this with him and my family. Hopefully it’s the start of something special.”
Reavie made a 20-foot birdie putt on the par-4 18th to force the PGA Tour’s fourth straight playoff and the event’s third overtime finish in a row.
“It’s right up there with the putt I made to win in Canada,” the 36-yearold said. “It was a lot of fun. Fortunately I walked up and I really got a good read off it right away.”
Adam Hadwin (71) of Abbotsford was the low Canadian at 4 under to finish tied for 43rd. Ben Silverman (72) of Thornhill, Ont., was 3 under and Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor (69) was 2 under. Mac Hughes of Dundas, Ont., failed to make the cut.