Kizzire outlasts Hahn, Spieth’s putting woes and Kisner honours bet
So what happened at the Sony Open?
It took six extra holes in Hawaii for Patton Kizzire to edge out James Hahn for his second win on tour. The first came in Mexico in November and he doubled up after a closing 68 to finish, with Hahn, on 17 under, one shot clear of Tom Hoge who doubled the 16th. Defending champion Justin Thomas tied for 14th on -12, Jordan Spieth was a further shot back.
Kizzire parred every hole on his front nine, then went eagle-birdie and dropped one at 13. Hahn’s final round was very different, he had five birdies on the trot and nine in total for his 62. But it was a bogey at the short 17th that undid him after they halved the first five extra holes – Kizzire had an opportunity to win it at the fourth extra hole but Hahn looked the more likely to win it and he missed from six feet at the next.
Kizzire, who topped the Web.com Tour money list in 2015, is now top of the FedExCup standings.
Best Quote
“I love trying to get better and putting myself in uncomfortable spots. That’s all I want to do is just to be somewhere that I’ve never been because that gets me uncomfortable. That’s when I know I’m doing something right,” Patton Kizzire
Talking Point
Aside from the world nearly ending and Bones making his comeback on Justin Thomas’ bag it was another slow week for Jordan Spieth’s putter who, for many, is the greatest player to ever use a putter.
The Open champion tied for 18th six shots back and, aside from rolling in a 91-foot bomb on Saturday (see below), there wasn’t much to like about his trusty flat stick, much like last week at the Tournament of Champions.
“I got a lot of work to do in the putting game. I think I was somewhere close to about 100th this week in strokes gained (he was actually 58th). I was like 95th going into Sunday and made a couple outside 10 feet, but then I also missed a number of them. So I’ve got a lot of work to do with the putter, it’s as simple as that. Everything else is plenty ready to win.”
The good news is he topped the stats for Greens In Regulation with 61/72 and he said it shouldn’t take too long before he’s finding the bottom of the cup a little more often.
“Maybe it will take eight to 10 rounds before I can hopefully get comfortable with the putter with adjusting back to where I should be.”
As for the last time he had a good week on the greens the World No 2 was typically honest…
“I couldn’t tell you. The second round last week, I made a couple. And then, we’re going back to the Northern Trust in August, probably.”
Best Dressed
Kevin Kisner is a University of Georgia alum (which means he went there) while Justin Thomas did his studying at Alabama. Anyway the latter beat the former 26-23 in Monday’s College Football Play-off National Championship which meant Kisner had lost the bet and, fair play, he wore the ‘Bama jersey down the 17th in Hawaii.
“He handled it a lot better than I probably would have if I had to put the jersey on,” Thomas said. “I don’t have the hatred toward Georgia like I do a lot of other schools in the SEC. I don’t know if he feels the same way, if that’s why he handled it as well as he did, or if he’s just that good of a sport.”
With Alabama the 3.5 points favourite Kisner asked for the points but Thomas stood his ground.“If I’d have got the points, he’d have been wearing it, and I was lobbying for the points the whole week, and he didn’t give them to me,” Kisner joked. “So I’m still not sure about this bet.”
Worst Dressed
You’ll no doubt be familiar with Tyrone Van Aswegen from South Africa and, while to his credit he has overlooked the white belt, the shirt is pretty bad. I’ve never really got the checked look and I’ve never really got the tinted shades so the overall appearance isn’t for me.
Best Tweets
Champagne shower for the champ courtesy of @Chris_Kirk_. ? ? pic.twitter.com/OQj27dlZ8K
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 15, 2018
If that (false) emergency alert came three hours later, have to imagine this would've been the first PGA Tour event in a while to be delayed for a potential missile threat.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelESPN) January 13, 2018
Come on @GolfChannel… give him a rest! I need him this weekend! #justkidding ?? https://t.co/5h3MJ8u85m
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) January 13, 2018
Best Shots
Sunday
A crucial ? en route to a playoff victory on sudden-death hole number six!#MustSeeMoment pic.twitter.com/AoSar8rHIq
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 15, 2018
170 yards ➡ 1 foot.@JamesHahnPGA is DIALED in at Waialae.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/s2pf1Cmz9f
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 15, 2018
Saturday
An ace in the Aloha State!#MustSeeMoments pic.twitter.com/dbbBOBSDxu
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 14, 2018
A stylish finish from the sand for Russell Knox! ?#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/bcI68asLjj
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 14, 2018
Friday
ICYMI: @JordanSpieth can kinda putt. #ShotOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/f4HD4q3LVt
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 13, 2018
Thursday
Shot of the Day!
It's just his 2nd start since 2013. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/HW5XuTO9sM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 12, 2018
Best Stats
Playoff goes to 6th hole; this is the longest playoff on the PGA Tour since 2012 Mayakoba when John Huh beat Robert Allenby on the 8th playoff hole
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) January 15, 2018
Brian Harman has played 18 rounds on the PGA Tour this season. He's been inside the top-15 of the leaderboard following 16 of them.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) January 13, 2018
NCG’s alternative predictions for 2018
Your sure-fire way to make money on this year’s majors
Is 2018 the year Fowler finally breaks his major duck?
Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
