|
The Canadian won his second PGA Tour title and his first since
2016.
Hughes began the day one shot off the pace set by Mark Hubbard.
Hughes' final-round 69 got him to 17-under-par 271 for the
tournament. The Austrian Straka was in the clubhouse at 17 under
following a 67.
Both players replayed the par-4 18th hole at the Country Club of
Jackson and saved par the first time. On the second playthrough,
Hughes landed his approach shot 8 feet away from the pin, and
after Straka missed a longer birdie putt, Hughes knocked his in,
pumping his fist just as his ball fell.
"I'm over the moon," Hughes said. "I had some moments today
where I was tested and was able to pull through. It's kind of my
M.O. a little bit ... to scramble and save some pars. I had to
do that a little bit today on the back nine. Yeah, did
everything I possibly could, just grinded my butt off, and
luckily it was good enough."
Hughes made four birdies and one bogey during his round. He
saved par at the 18th to ensure the playoff, two-putting from
103 feet across the green.
"You just don't practice putts that long," Hughes said. "It was
super fast. I just kept telling myself that I was going to
two-putt that putt. I was going to get down there and I was
going to make it."
Straka was looking for his second win of the calendar year. Last
season, he won the Honda Classic and went to a playoff in the
first leg of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude
Championship, where he lost to Will Zalatoris.
"Just more experience of getting myself in the hunt," Straka
said. "I think that's huge, the kind of experience you can't
buy. It's always the goal at the beginning of the week is on
Sunday afternoon to have a chance, and I gave myself a chance."
South Africa's Garrick Higgo shot a 68 to finish one shot
outside the playoff and settle for third. His countryman Dean
Burmester (67) finished fourth at 15 under.
Hubbard faded with a 2-over 74 in his final round. He tied for
fifth at 13 under with Emiliano Grillo (69) of Argentina, Nick
Hardy (70) and Keegan Bradley (70).
--Field Level Media
[© 2022 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content. |
|
