You probably wonder why CBS insists on recording a PGA Tour event that has already been played and finished then shows it hours after the tournament is over?
It has happened many times before and once again on Sunday at the RBC Heritage.
Your winner was Satoshi Kodaira. Probably the first thing that pops into anyone’s mind is: Who the heck is Satoshi Kodaira?
Good question. Fairly simple answer.
Kodaira is not a member of the PGA Tour but is ranked high enough in the Official World Golf Rankings to get invited into some of the world’s best events. He was at The Masters last week and again, went quietly unnoticed with a 28th-place finish.
It’s been easy to miss him in other events as well. He missed the cut at the Sony and again at Bay Hill. Nabbed a 54th at WGC Mexico and didn’t scare anyone at the WGC match play with a tie for 59th.
On Sunday, he came from a whopping six shots back at Harbor Town. His final round 66 got him to 12-under and the early clubhouse lead. The starting times were moved up to beat predicted storms in the afternoon and Satoshi finished hours ahead of the lead groups, most of whom were playing poorly.
Overnight leader Ian Poulter can now go home and rest thanks to a 40 on the back nine and his closing 75 dropped him all the way into a tie for seventh.
Si Woo Kim found his collar getting tight down the stretch. He three-putted the 15th for bogey then missed a six-footer at 18 to win the tournament. He closed with 71 to tie Kodaira.
Luke List had a 10-footer at 18 to get into the playoff. Another miss. He shot 71 and tied for third with Bryson DeChambeau, who made up for his Saturday 75 with a Sunday 66.
It took Satoshi exactly three holes to dispatch Kim. They played 18 twice — par-par — on to the par three 17th. Satoshi’s tee shot stopped 25 feet from the hole, Kim was inside him at 20 feet. Satoshi made his and the obviously shaken Kim missed.
Satoshi, who has six wins on the Japan Tour, where he plays full-time, is now exempt on the PGA Tour for two years. He said afterward that it’s been his dream to play on the PGA Tour and now he has a two-year ticket.
And he’s going to climb higher from that 46th spot in the OWGR.
2 Comments
jedjr102@gmail.com
going back to the Saturday round at the Masters, Rory and Stenson match:
Did I see what I thought I saw, Rory leaving the 18th hole before Henrick putted out,
I’m sure that didn’t happen, just old eyes not seeing good, Or I hope that was the case.
Tom Edrington
I didn’t see that pairing, I would be shocked if that happened, they’re Ryder Cup teammates….sometimes guys will walk off the green and shake hands once they clear the green if the group behind them is waiting to hit their second shots.