Tyler Duncan Wins RSM Classic In A Sudden-Death Playoff
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2012) -- Tyler Duncan made up for a double bogey on the last hole of regulation by making an 8-foot par putt in a sudden-death playoff to win the RSM Classic at the Seaside Course today in a dramatic finish to one of the most innovative tournaments on the PGA TOUR.
Duncan had a final-round 3-under 69, including three birdies on the back nine, to post an 18-under 266 total, one stroke better than world No. 1 Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who closed with a 64 that included eight birdies and two bogeys.
They were the only players under par for the week
With the victory, Duncan gained entry into this year's Masters Tournament to go along with his invitation next week to The Honda Classic. It marked just his second career PGA TOUR victory in 177 starts since turning pro in 2007. His first win came at last year's Web.com Tour's Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational.
McIlroy started the day with a one-stroke lead over Duncan and stretched that advantage to two strokes on the 14th tee after draining a 50-foot eagle putt. McIlroy then rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt at the 16th, his final hole of the day, to stretch his lead to three strokes.
Tyler Duncan wins RSM Classic in a sudden-death playoff thanks to his approach shot here at the 72nd hole
Duncan, however, wouldn't go away easily. He birdied the par-5 18th with a 10-foot putt to reduce his deficit to two strokes heading into the final hole of regulation. A double bogey by McIlroy on No. 18 sealed Duncan's victory when he tapped in for par after his approach shot went just left of the green.
Duncan, who has had rounds of 64 and 65 in the event, set a new tournament course record in each round throughout the week. His 275 total also marks the lowest 54-hole score in relation to par at any PGA TOUR event this season.
This was Duncan's first PGA Tour win in his 177th start
The win marks Duncan's second career PGA TOUR victory and first since the 2011 Web.com Tour's Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational. He also gained entry into this year's Masters Tournament, joining fellow RSM Classic champion Chesson Hadley as the second player to do so this week.
This was the first time the RSM Classic has ended in a sudden-death playoff since 2003, when two players went to extra holes before eventually being decided on the fifth hole.
He is the fourth consecutive first-time winner on the PGA Tour, following Jonas Blixt, Brendon Todd and Hadley
The top 60 players in the Official World Golf Ranking at the completion of this event will earn spots in the Honda Classic field at PGA National next week.
Duncan is projected to rise from his current spot of 204th to 65th with his victory.
Led by fellow Northern Irishman McIlroy, the field for this week's RSM Classic featured five of the top 10 and seven of the top 15 players in this week's Official World Golf Ranking.
Who won the rsm classic
A record-tying shootout Saturday between Tiger Woods and Ernie Els at the season's first major failed to produce a winner, but it did produce its first champion. Justin Rose played the final six holes of regulation with eagle eyes and closed with three pars for a one-shot victory over runnerup Webb Simpson in the $6 million Regions Tradition.
Rose made birdie putts of 9 feet and 12 feet on the 16th and 18th holes for a 13-under total to match Simpson, who was trying to become the first wire-to-wire winner in PGA Tour Champions history. After Rose's 25-footer lipped out at No. 17, he two-putted from 60 feet for par at the last to match Simpson, who had missed a 20-foot birdie putt.
