Washington – Tyler Duncan birdied the second playoff hole to edge Webb Simpson on Sunday and claim his first PGA Tour title at the RSM Classic in Sea Island, Georgia.
The 30-year-old American, who returned to the PGA Tour this season with a 12th-place finish in the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, powered into the playoff with birdies at three of his last four holes, including a 25-foot birdie at the 72nd to cap a five-under par 65.
That put him in the clubhouse on 19-under 263, where Simpson joined him after birdies at 15 and 16 and a five-foot par putt 18 to cap a 67.
Both players parred the first playoff hole, the par-four 18th.
When they returned to play it again Simpson was in the left rough while Duncan again found the fairway, eventually draining a 12-footer to seal the victory.
“I’m just so happy to be here playing, and to come out here and win is unbelievable,” said Duncan, whose tournament included a career-best 61 on Friday that he followed with a 70 that left him four off the overnight lead held by Brendon Todd.
“I knew it was going to be a tough day out here, it was colder and the wind picked up,” Duncan said. “I was just trying to do the best that I could and fight to the end.”
He said it was “one of the best four-irons I’ve ever hit” that left him a six-foot birdie putt at the 17th, which he followed with his 72nd-hole flourish.
“I don’t even know,” he said. “Just so happy right now.”
Colombia’s Sebastian Munoz finished alone in third after a 68 for 264.
Todd, who was seeking his third straight PGA Tour title after victories at last week’s Mayakoba Classic and in Bermuda earlier this month, was fourth with a 72 for 266.
Leading scores after Sunday’s final round of the PGA Tour RSM Classic
played at Plantation and Seaside courses in Sea Island, Georgia (x-won
at second playoff hole. USA unless noted):
263 – x-Tyler Duncan 67-61-70-65, Webb Simpson 65-68-63-67
264 – Sebastian Munoz (COL) 67-63-66-68
266 – Brendon Todd 66-66-62-72
267 – Henrik Norlander (SWE) 67-65-67-68, Scottie Scheffler 70-66-63-68, Lee Kyoung-hoon (KOR) 64-68-66-69
268 – Denny McCarthy 71-62-68-67, DJ Trahan 67-63-67-71
269 – Will Gordon 68-65-70-66, Brian Stuard 70-66-66-67, Vaughn Taylor 68-67-65-69, Alex Noren (SWE) 68-65-67-69
270 – JT Poston 66-70-68-66, Matthew NeSmith 68-67-68-67, Keith Mitchell 70-66-66-68, Scott Brown 65-67-68-70, Brian Harman 67-66-66-71, Nick Watney 67-67-66-70
A week to remember. ?? @TDuncGolf comes up clutch on the second playoff hole to win @TheRSMClassic. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/KGYWcua2Hq
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 24, 2019
