Kodaira rallies, beats Kim in playoff
In the early going, Satoshi Kodaira was thinking only of playing well enough Sunday to make it to next week’s PGA Tour stop.
Those worries are over for the 28-year-old from Japan, who rallied from six shots behind to win the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head Island, S.C., in a playoff and gain an invitation to join the tour as a regular.
“This is a stage I’ve been dreaming about,” Kodaira said through an interpreter. “And having this opportunity to play full time is a dream come true. So, of course, I will accept full-time membership.”
Kodaira defeated Si Woo Kim on the third playoff hole, rolling in a 25-foot birdie on the par-3 17th hole, then punching his fist in celebration. It ended a drama-filled final round in which it appeared that Kim, Ian Poulter and Luke List had the lock on the title at different points.
Kodaira’s relentless grind to the top won the day.
And with the game he showed at Harbour Town Golf Links, Kodaira appears as if he has more big moments on tour ahead like countryman and five-time tour winner Hideki Matsuyama. Kodaira won $1.206 million and will be exempt on the PGA Tour through the 2019-20 season.
“I feel like I’m getting closer to that level,” said Kodaira, who is ranked 46th in the world and has played in 15 tour events. “I’d like to do my best in major championships and, hopefully, work hard at it.”
Bryson DeChambeau (66) and List (72) were tied for third. Poulter, the third-round leader, had his bid for a second tour title in three weeks end with a 75 . He tied for seventh.
The tournament appeared in steady hands with Kim, whose bulldog focus and shot-making held everyone off to win The Players Championship last May. However, the 22-year-old from South Korea faltered over his final nine holes of regulation, with three bogeys to fall into the tie with Kodaira.
Kim had the chance to win in regulation but missed a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
Kim thought the increased winds slowed the greens, making putts more difficult on the final nine holes. “I tried my best and the putts didn’t drop,” Kim said.
Dustin Johnson finished with his best round of the week, a 67, and tied for 16th, ensuring that he will stay at No. 1 in the world for at least the next two weeks.
He will take off the next three weeks, starting with a vacation to the Bahamas — “I’m headed there right now,” he said, smiling — until he returns to action at The Players Championship. European Tour: Jon Rahm earned his third European Tour win a week after finishing fourth at the Masters, shooting a 5-under 67 to take the Spanish Open in Madrid by two strokes over overnight leader Paul Dunne (71). Rahm, a 23year-old Spaniard ranked No. 4 in the world, had six birdies in his final round to finish at 20-under 268.
“When I made the decision to come straight from Augusta, it wouldn’t be to just show up and walk around. I wanted to win this tournament,” said Rahm, who got his first professional win on home soil.