Kizzire edges Hahn in epic Sony Open play-off battle
HONOLULU: Patton Kizzire parred the sixth play-off hole on Sunday to vanquish James Hahn and seize his second PGA Tour title of the season at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
The marathon play-off capped a day when Kizzire needed all of his patience at Waialae in Honolulu.
He parred the first nine holes before an eagle at the 10th gave him a share of the lead. After another birdie and a bogey he finished with a 68 for 17-under 263.
Hahn was already in the clubhouse at 17-under after a storming final-round 62, and it would take half a dozen more holes to determine the winner.
“It wasn’t necessarily pretty but it was nice to come out on top,” Kizzire said. “James had a great round today.”
Kizzire, who won at Mayakoba in Mexico in November, became the tour’s first twotime winner in the 2017-18 season when he finished off Hahn at the par-three 17th. Kizzire was just off the green, 22 feet from the hole and Hahn further off the putting surface.
Both opted to putt, Kizzire leaving himself a four-footer that he made after Hahn’s eight-foot effort caught the edge but didn’t drop.
“It was kind of a marathon play-off,” Kizzire said. “I was hoping I could make an eagle on the first hole and end it quickly but I’ll take it any way I can get it.”
Kizzire and Hahn both opened the playoff with pars at the par-five 18th.
Both birdied 18 when they returned again for the second hole, then both parred the par-three 17th.
They returned again to 18, where Hahn got up and down for birdie from a greenside bunker while Kizzire two-putted for birdie from 28 feet.
Both were in a greenside bunker at 18 for the fifth play-off hole and came up with pars.
Hahn had been a perfect 2-0 in previous tour playoffs, winning both of his titles to date in extra holes.
LEADING FINAL ROUND SCORES
(Par-70, x-won at 6th play-off hole, USA unless
noted)
263 — x-Patton Kizzire 67-64-64-68, James Hahn 67-69-65-62
264 — Tom Hoge 65-65-64-70
265 — Webb Simpson 67-70-63-65, Brian Stuard 67-6667-65, Brian Harman 64-63-68-70
266 — Gary Woodland 67-67-68-64, Ben Martin 69-6666-65, Ollie Schniederjans 66-65-67-68