02/08/26 05:54:00
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02/08 17:53 CST Gotterup wins Phoenix Open on first playoff hole as Matsuyama
limps to the finish
Gotterup wins Phoenix Open on first playoff hole as Matsuyama limps to the
finish
By JOHN MARSHALL
AP Sports Writer
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) --- Chris Gotterup shot 7-under 64 and won the Phoenix
Open with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff Sunday after Hideki Matsuyama
pulled his tee shot into the water.
The leader by one heading into the final round, Matsuyama had converted all of
his previous five 54-hole leads into wins, but limped to the finish at TPC
Scottsdale's Stadium Course.
The two-time Phoenix Open champion nearly hit his tee shot in the water left of
the reachable par-4 17th and pulled his drive on 18 left into the church pew
bunkers --- his 11th missed fairway of the day. Matsuyama hit his second shot
into the face of the bunker and couldn't get up-and-down from 43 yards to send
the tournament to a playoff. He shot 68 to match Gotterup at 16-under 268.
Gotterup, winner of the season-opening Sony Open, closed with five birdies on
his final six holes and stayed loose by hitting balls off the first tee before
uncorking a massive drive on 18 in the playoff.
Matsuyama yanked his tee shot even further left than he did in regulation,
caroming it off the bank of the lake into the water. He hit his third shot to
onto the green after a drop, but Gotterup left no doubt by sinking his birdie
putt for his fourth career PGA Tour win --- second in three starts this season.
Top-ranked Scottie Scheffler went from being in danger of the missing the cut
with a shaky first round to turning heads as his name moved toward the top of
the leaderboard.
The two-time Phoenix Open champion had a run of four birdies in five holes on
the back nine to pull within a shot, but couldn't take advantage of a massive
drive on 18. He closed with a 64 to finish in a five-way tie for third at 15
under.
Matsuyama won consecutive Phoenix Opens in 2016 and 2017, rallying both times.
The Japanese star started the final round with a one-shot lead over four
players with several others still in the hunt --- led by Scheffler.
The world No. 1 opened the sport's rowdiest tournament with a 73, then shot 65
in the second round to extend the PGA Tour's longest active cuts streak to 66.
Scheffler was seven behind after the second round, trimmed it to five after the
third and started inching up the leaderboard unday.
Scheffler had three birdies on the front nine and a run of three straight on
the back --- highlighted by a 72-foot putt from the fringe on 14 --- pulled him
within one of the lead. A two-putt for birdie from 63 feet on 17 to got
Scheffler back within one, but he missed a 24-foot birdie putt on 18 to see his
charge fall short.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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