Kodaira makes PGA Tour breakthrough as Poulter collapses

What happened at the RBC Heritage?

This really shouldn’t be a surprise, but it feels like one. Satoshi Kodaira is ranked inside the world’s top 50, has won seven times as a professional, and finished 28th at The Masters only last week.

Despite this, many probably haven’t heard of him. This is a player that has established himself as one of the best on the Japan Golf Tour, but has only made fleeting appearances in majors and WGC events.

In truth, when the Japanese finished up his round on Sunday, he would have probably been happy with his 66 to surge through the field, but making a playoff would’ve been at the back of his mind. He only needed a top-10 finish to get an exemption in next week’s Valero Texas Open – that was more than likely the goal at the start of the day.

But when the leader, Si Woo Kim, started to falter in the testing afternoon conditions, the probability of winning outright started to increase. The Korean had a two-shot lead at one stage, but last year’s Players champion missed putts of four, seven, five and six feet over the last four holes to finish up tied with the clubhouse leader Kodaira, sending the tournament to extra holes.

The two traded pars at the first two holes, but when Kodaira rammed in a 20-footer for birdie at the 17th – the third playoff hole – the demoralised Kim had no response.

The result? Kodaira becomes the fifth Japanese player to win on the PGA Tour, and jumps inside the top-30 in the world for the first time in his career. He also takes up full-time PGA Tour membership – this is a truly life-changing victory for the 28-year-old.

RBC Heritage final leaderboard

Satoshi Kodaira has his plaid jacket! #RBCHeritage pic.twitter.com/jvukjyFsfv

— 50th RBC Heritage (@RBC_Heritage) April 15, 2018

Talking point

Ian Poulter entered the day with a one-shot lead, and the Englishman was going for his second PGA Tour title in just three weeks.

He was in prime position when making the turn in one-under, but as the poor weather started to come in, his performance started to deteriorate. Bogeys at 10, 13, 14, 16 and 17 took Poulter out of contention, and he’d have to settle for a tie for 7th.

Best quote

On winning in America: “This was my goal from the very beginning.” #RBCHeritage pic.twitter.com/2U4cMwTjJa

— 50th RBC Heritage (@RBC_Heritage) April 15, 2018

Moments of the week

Since winning @THEPLAYERSChamp, Si Woo Kim's expectations have been raised.

Shots like this exceed them.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/r9rKxY5rA9

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 15, 2018

Clutch par save by Si Woo Kim.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/1MZV0IcgRS

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 15, 2018

Right in the center.

Si Woo Kim curls in the birdie to lead by two! #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/7svImid7fI

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 15, 2018

Exquisite play from @IanJamesPoulter. ?

He has that putt to move back to T1. #QuickHits pic.twitter.com/ifPpqRHJr3

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) April 15, 2018

Best Stats

#OWGR update after week #15:
1DJ
2JT
3Spieth
4Rahm ?
21Kuchar
23Harman
24Kisner
26CHoff
27Kodaira ?
29Poulter
34Cantlay
39SWKim
40CSmith
41Webb
48DeChambeau
51Frittelli
52Pieters
53List
68Dunne
71Hadley
78BillyHo
80An
83Hossler
85Tanihara
86Coetzee
88 ?

— Nosferatu (@VC606) April 15, 2018

Amazing streak at Hilton Head continues. Kodaira the 6th straight winner to start from at least 3 shots behind on the final day.

— Doug Ferguson (@dougferguson405) April 15, 2018

This is the 10th playoff this season on the PGA Tour. The record for a single season is 18 in 2011.

— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGC) April 15, 2018