RSM: Hughes wins playoff with par

The Canadian was three shots ahead when he tried to do too much from a tough lie in a fairway bunker on the 11th hole at Sea Island and compounded his errors with a three-putt that wiped out his three-shot lead. Billy Horschel thought he hit the winning putt, taking quick steps to the right to watch the ball track toward the cup only for it to burn the left edge. But Villegas missed, and Hughes had the win. “I’m really able to control my golf shots”. “I made the putt of my life right there”, Hughes told the Associated Press.

The 2012 graduate and PGA Tour rookie took home $1.08 million and a three-year Tour exemption, along with invitations to The Masters, The PGA Championship, and The Players Championship. This was just his ninth PGA Tour event ever. Four players held the lead at various times on a dramatic final day, including Spieth, who was playing the Australian Open for the third time. Commentators described the win as a great birthday and wedding present.

“He was texting me last night a little bit”, Hughes said. “It’s been quite a ride”.

He became the second rookie to win at the start of the new PGA Tour season after Cody Gribble was victorious in Mississippi. “The big playoff like this, finishing in the dark with five guys. This is a huge thrill for us and our members”, said John Kirkwood, head professional at Dundas Valley Golf and Country Club, where Hughes grew up and learned the game. “It was quite a battle out there”. He recovered, though, and finished strong over the final 25 holes.

The foursome returned in cold and breezy conditions today to a 189-yard 17th hole that surrendered only nine final-round birdies but only six bogeys as well.

Barber birdied No. 14 and No. 15 to accompany three birdies on the front nine.

A bogey on the 11th hole dropped Hughes’ lead to one stroke. So he ended at 69 and is now seven-under 135 and in Tied-36th place, which was still five spots above where he was after first day.

Villegas kept making putts until he couldn’t see them.

Hughes went the first 46 holes of the event without playing a hole over par. “But with Mackenzie, there was a certain maturity and professionalism about him after he won the Canadian Am that made him special…you and I think he just knew by then that he could make it to the PGA Tour”.

Hughes, Henrik Norlander, Camilo Villegas and Blayne Barber teed off on the par 3 17th at 8 a.m. Monday after the playoff was called Sunday because of darkness after two trips through the par 4 18th hole on the Seaside course.