The Charles Schwab Championship concluded in dramatic fashion on Sunday at Phoenix Country Club in Arizona, where Jeff Maggert and Retief Goosen faced off in a sudden-death playoff that was required not only to determine the winner of the tournament, but also the winner of the season-long Charles Schwab Cup, who receives an additional $1 million bonus prize.
Goosen fired his lowest round of the week on Sunday, a seven-under-par 64, to join Maggert, who shot a final round of five-under-par 66, in the sudden-death playoff, which commenced on Phoenix Country Club’s 527-yard par-5 18th hole, which Maggert and Goosen birdied in regulation. Both players parred the 18th twice in the playoff before moving to the club’s 17th hole, a 411-yard par 4, for the third extra hole.
Goosen hit his drive in the bunker while Maggert had a 123-yard approach from the fairway. After Goosen hit his shot to birdie range, Maggert answered by one-hopping his shot directly into the hole, to the delight of not only the spectators — but also Scott McCarron, who retained the top spot in the Charles Schwab Cup standings, despite finishing T27 out of 34 players this week. After a stellar season that included three wins and 14 top-10 finishes, failing to control his own destiny in the end stung a bit for McCarron.
