Hideki repeats his Phoenix feat
Matsuyama wins playoff to clinch fifth title in 15 weeks
Hideki Matsuyama was the last man standing at golf’s biggest party — again.
Matsuyama won the Phoenix Open on the fourth hole of a playoff for the second straight year, outlasting Webb Simpson on Sunday at TPC Scottsdale.
Matsuyama won with a 10-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 17th, the same hole where the 24-year-old Japanese star finished off Rickie Fowler a year ago.
“I just had faith and believed that my chance would come again, so I just waited and waited, had patience,” Matsuyama said. “Finally, that last one went in.”
Matsuyama closed with a 5-under 66, parring the final three holes to match Simpson at 17-under 267.
On the par-4 18th in regulation, Matsuyama’s 20-foot birdie attempt to win stopped just short.
“I don’t know how it stayed out,” Matsuyama said. “But you can’t be short on a putt like that.”
Simpson birdied three of the last four for a 64, the best round of the day.
“To shoot seven under on Sunday, with birdies on 17 and 18 is a great feeling, knowing I had to do it,” Simpson said.
“But Hideki is a great player, obviously. I knew he’d be a tough competitor in the playoff.
“I wish I could have a couple of those putts back and hit them a little harder.”
The tournament drew an estimated 58,654 fans on Sunday to break the weekly record with 655,434. The previous mark of 618,365 was set last year. A record 204,906 packed the grounds on Saturday.
Matsuyama has thrived in the party atmosphere, tying for fourth in 2014 and tying for second in 2015 before winning the past two years.
“There’s nothing like it in golf,” Matsuyama said.
“Playing in front of such a huge number of fans this past week is great motivation. I just try to have fun with it, and at the same time keep my focus.”
Matsuyama and Simpson took advantage of thirdround leader An Byeonghun’s collapse.
Three strokes ahead of Matsuyama and four ahead of Simpson with nine holes left, An bogeyed the 10th and 11th and closed with two more on 17 and 18. The South Korean had a 73 to finish sixth at 14 under.
“It just didn’t work out today,” An said.
Matsuyama won his second PGA Tour title of the season and fourth overall.
He has won five worldwide events in the past 15 weeks, also taking the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, two tournaments in Japan and Tiger Woods’ unofficial Hero World Challenge.
“It’s been a good run,” Matsuyama said. “I’m going to ride it as long as I can.”
He’s the sixth player to successfully defend a title in the event and the first to do it at TPC Scottsdale. The other five are Hall of Famers Ben Hogan (1946-47), Jimmy Demaret (1949-50), Lloyd Mangrum (1952-53), Arnold Palmer (1961-63) and Johnny Miller (1974-75).
Matsuyama broke a tie with Shigeki Maruyama for the most victories by a Japanese player, and became the first to win playoffs in an event two straight years since Ernie Els in the Sony Open in Hawaii in 2003-04.
Phil Mickelson tied for 16th at 10 under after a 71. He made a run with four frontnine birdies, then played the back nine in four over with a double bogey on 17, four bogeys and two birdies.
The 46-year-old former Arizona State star played his 100th round in the tournament, which he won in 1996, 2005 and 2013.
“It was a disappointing way to finish it, but it’s very encouraging with the way I have been playing,” Mickelson said.
Jon Rahm had a 70 to also finish at 10 under. Last week, he won at Torrey Pines for his first PGA Tour victory.
I just had faith and believed that my chance would come again, so I just waited and waited, had patience.” Hideki Matsuyama, after winning the Phoenix Open for the second year in a row