English channels last- shot confidence
He sinks a six- foot putt in a playoff with Niemann for his first win in seven years.
KAPALUA, Hawaii — Harris English was that player who always wanted the ball for the last shot. His trouble the last couple of years was getting off the bench and into the game.
English completed his turnaround from a sevenyear drought with a victory that he felt was long overdue, making a six- foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole against Joaquin Niemann to win the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
He had the ball. And he was clutch.
He ran off four birdies in a five- hole stretch on the back nine to catch Niemann. Needing a birdie on the 18th at Kapalua, English hit a three- iron so pure from a downhill lie that it rolled out to 10 feet for an eagle putt that he narrowly missed, settling for a four- under 69 to force extra holes.
In the playoff, he lagged a long putt from off the front of the green to six feet for the winner.
“When I was a kid, I loved having the ball when the clock’s running out in basketball,” English said. “I love — I love — the situations, and I crave getting back into that. I hadn’t had it in a long time. You’ve got to have confidence in yourself.”
Niemann did his part with a nine-under 64, matching the low score of the tournament, impressive considering the blustery wind finally showed upon the Plantation Course for the final day.
But he missed a six- foot birdie putt on the 18th that cost him. And on the same hole in the playoff, with a 30yard advantage off the tee, he tugged his shot just enough that it tumbled down the shaggy slope left of the 18th. A full swing with a lob wedge only got it up the hill to the fringe. His birdie attempt from 15 feet was short.
“I had a perfect line the second shot, I just mishit it a little bit,” Niemann said.
English once was among the rising American stars, picking up two victories in 2013. But then he got into a funk, lost his full card in 2019 and was No. 369 in the world.
In a normal year, English wouldn’t be at Kapalua for the winners-only event. Because of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the field was expanded to include anyone who reached the Tour Championship.
The fact English made it to the Championship speaks to his turnaround.
He now goes to No. 17 in the world.
“It’s awesome to get some validation,” English said.
Justin Thomas stayed in the mix one day after he was heard uttering a homophobic slur under his breath. Thomas apologized, and did so again after a 66 left him one shot out of the playoff.