Nick Taylor wins PGA Tour’s Phoenix Open in play-off
ItCanada’s Nick Taylor sank an 11-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Charlie Hoffman after notching three of his last four in regulation play to cap a tough week at the Phoenix Open.
Taylor closed with a 6-under 65 to move to 21-under 263, and the seemingly concerned Canadian forced a playoff with a 9-foot birdie on the par-4 18th. Both players birdied the extra hole and landed on the second green on the 18th hole.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Hoffman hung up with a birdie and Taylor birdied the hole for the third time in less than an hour. The victory earned him his fifth PGA Tour title and the rare decision to close the doors and suspend alcohol sales was made after a messy week due to weather and the traditional party atmosphere that got out of hand on Saturday.
Hoffman took advantage of the week’s first good day in the desert to close out a weather-delayed third round at TPC Scottsdale with a morning 64. Hoffman was 4-under par on the back nine for three straight holes and had a three-stroke lead when he finished.
The Canadian shot a record five-shot 60 in the first round, tying the most on the PGA Tour after 18 holes since 1983. He shot a 68 in the third round on Sunday morning, but stopped after a birdie on the ninth hole in the afternoon.
He kept his birdie streak going by making back-to-back birdies starting at the 15th hole and finished with a clean sweep after missing a birdie on the 17th hole. Australia’s Adam Scott followed Hoffman on Sunday afternoon with a second-round 66 to finish tied for eighth after a third-round 65.
With five birdies and an eagle on the par-5 15th hole, the former world No. 1 improved her ranking on the final day. Countryman Aaron Baddeley (68), who birdied the ninth hole three times, shot 28 at 8 under, and Lee Min-woo (73) ended a memorable week in a tie for 71st.
Two-time defending champion Scotty Scheffler (66) finished the third round with five consecutive birdies. The world No. 1 completed his first attempt at three feet on the PGA Tour in 13 years before his putt went cold early in the final round.
He shot 66 at 18 to tie for third place with Sam Burns.
