Hideki Matsuyama hit a birdie in the first playoff hole to defeat Alex Noren and claim the World Challenge gold championships at the Albany Golf Club in Bahamas.
Matsuyama, holed out from 116 yards in the 10th fairway for eagle that allowed him to catch Sepp Straka and move past two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler and seize control.
Noren, meanwhile, caught Matsuyama with an 18-foot birdie putt on the final hole to force the playoff.
Both golfers were tied on 266 after hitting identical 8-under-64 in the final round.
With Matsuyama birdieing the hole, Noren’s 20-foot birdie attempt slid by on the left.
It was Matsuyama’s second win at the event hosted by Tiger Woods having also clinched the title in 2016.
Straka, the 54-hole leader by one shot over Scheffler, birdied the final hole for a 68 to finish alone in third. Scheffler had a slow start and a two-hole stretch early on the back nine that ruined his bid for a third straight victory. He shot 68 and tied for fourth with U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun 65).
Scheffler ended his season by not finishing worse than a tie for eighth in his last 16 events dating to the Houston Open the last week in March.
Europe win World Champions Cup
Meanwhile, Team Europe scored 102.5 points to run away with the Skechers World Champions Cup supporting Shriners Children’s.
They won by 16.5 points over the runner-up Team International after entering the final day with a narrow 1.5-point lead,
Team USA’s Jason Caron was the leading point scorer for the event with 60.5 points, scoring double-digit points in each of the last four sessions.
The unique event is being played for a second time featured three teams – the U.S., Europe and an International squad – facing off in a six-somes, six-balls and singles in a blend of Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup events.
