Kodaira beats Kim for PGA Heritage title

WASHINGTON: Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira sank a 24-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole to defeat South Korea’s Kim Si-woo and win the Heritage tournament on Sunday for his first US PGA Tour victory.

The 28-year-old from Tokyo had won six times on the Japan Tour, most recently at last November’s Taiheiyo Masters, but captured the biggest title of his career with a birdie at the par3 17th at Harbor Town in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

World No 46 Kodaira was coming off his best Major showing, and what had been his top US result, with a share of 28th at last week’s Masters.

Kodaira settled for the plaid jacket given to Heritage winners instead of the green one handed out at Augusta.

“I will probably not wear it regularly, but this is special,” Kodaira said through a translator.

Kodaira was also excited to accept a berth on the US PGA Tour and several guaranteed tournament entries that will come with the triumph as a tour member.

“This is a dream come true,” Kodaira said.

Kim and Kodaira both finished 72 holes at 12-under-par 272, one stroke ahead of Americans Luke List and Bryson DeChambeau with Billy Horschel and Webb Simpson on 274.

Kodaira and 51st-ranked Kim began the playoff by replaying the 18th hole. Both parred twice more as they had in the final round. Kodaira went up and down from beyond the green and sank a testy five-footer for par on the second playoff hole to extend the playoff.

Both had made bogeys at 17 in the final round but Kodaira sank his tricky putt and Kim missed to end the showdown.