English Wins Playoff – Scott Heads Australians in Hawaii
Harris English his first trophy in seven years – photo Getty Images / Gregory Shamus
Adam Scott has finished as the best of the Australians at the Sentry Tournament of Champions at the Kapalua Resort in Hawaii, the 40-year-old Queenslander finishing the event in a share of 22nd place at 15 under and ten shots from the eventual winner, Harris English.
Scott’s final round of 70 was the result of a fine fightback from an opening nine of 38, his closing nine of five under 32 considerably improving his final position and seeing him finish just one ahead of fellow Australians, Marc Leishman and Cameron Smith.
Leishman also recovered from a slow start with a final nine of 4 under par 33 for a round of 69 to finish tied for 25th.
Smith was another to benefit from a strong finish, birdies at his final two holes having him tied with Leishman.
All three of the Australians will play this coming week’s Sony Open in Honolulu where they will be joined by fellow Australians Aaron Baddeley, Cameron Davis, Rhein Gibson and Matt Jones, Smith defending his 2020 title.
The winner this week, Harris English, birdied the first extra hole of a play against Joaquin Niemann to win his third PGA Tour title but his first since 2014.
English had led at the end of each round although through 72 holes he was of course tied with Niemann.
English was justifiably emotional about his victory but his form in recent months suggested that another win was close at hand. He has recorded top ten finishes in three of hos four previous starts on the PGA Tour.
“It’s incredible – a lot of hard work over the years and there are times when you think you are never get there again,” said English.
“I have built a great team around me back in Sea Island. Nobody has ever given up on me or lost faith in me. There’s definitely been highs and lows but that is the way golf goes.”
Niemann produced the equal best round of the week (64) to take the sole lead at one stage of the round but was unable to birdie the last which might have made the difference and waited nearly an hour while those behind on the golf course finished their rounds.
“I played awesome the whole week, especially today,” said Niemann. “One of my best rounds. Yeah, I just look back to 15 and 18 from today, I couldn’t make birdie and I think it was right there. But, yeah, just happy and it was close.
“I mean, if you asked me at the beginning of the round I’m going to be in a playoff, I would probably take it, but, yeah, the way I was playing the whole week and the way I played today, and then I just look back and I see those two par-5s I made par. But, yeah, I mean it is what it is.”
