Nick Taylor beats Charley Hoffman in playoff to win WM Phoenix Open
Nick Taylor denies Charley Hoffman to win WM Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale.
Nick Taylor captured his fourth PGA Tour title with playoff victory over Charley Hoffman at the WM Phoenix Open at famed TPC Scottsdale.
Taylor, 35, birdied three of the last four holes to force extra holes with Hoffman on 21-under par.
Players returned on Sunday to complete their third rounds before remaining in the same groups to complete their final rounds.
The win sees Taylor pick up a cheque for $1.5m and 500 FedEx Cup points.
For Hoffman, it marks his second playoff loss in the WM Phoenix Open.
At the age of 47, Hoffman was seeking to become the second oldest winner of the tournament.
Kenny Perry is the oldest winner of the Phoenix Open having won the event in 2009 - when he defeated Hoffman in a playoff - at the age of 48 years old.
Hoffman was also hoping to land a victory for the tournament sponsors as he is a long-time ambassador of Waste Management.
But it was not to be Hoffman's day as Taylor birdied three of the last four holes, before going on to birdie both of the playoff holes to lock up the win.
NICK TAYLOR IS CLUTCH! pic.twitter.com/UdJpm2JwZ7
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) February 12, 2024
Taylor held off a number of star names on the PGA Tour, none bigger than World No.1 Scottie Scheffler who was bidding to win the tournament for a record third time in a row.
Scheffler had pulled himself into a tie for the lead for the first time all week when he drained his sixth birdie of the final round at the tricky 11th, but he once again was left to rue his torrid form on the greens this season as he three-putted for par on the easy par-5 13th.
That came just moments after Hoffman himself had vaulted into the outright lead with an eagle of his own on the 13th.
Hoffman then birdied the par-4 14th and the par-5 15th to surge into a commanding three-stroke lead heading into the Stadium Hole Par-3 16th where he made a par.
While Hoffman was going about his business atop the leaderboard, Scheffler once again missed short putts on both 14 and 15 to slip further back.
Scheffler did nearly hole out for an ace at the Stadium Hole 16th but it was a case of too little too late.
The World No.1 had been attempting to become the first player to win the same PGA Tour event three times in a row since Steve Stricker who won the John Deere Classic three straight years from 2009 to 2011.
Scheffler went on to card a third consecutive round of 66 to finish on 18-under par in a tie for third with his good friend Sam Burns, who continued his solid early-season form.
Hoffman found some trouble down the short par-4 17th but he escaped well with a beautiful long putt to kick-in range for par.
He then unleashed the longest drive of the week down the 18th en route to making a par to post the clubhouse target of 21-under par.
But as Hoffman was ready to put his feet up in the clubhouse, Taylor, who was in the final group of the day, was making his move from the chasing pack.
Taylor drained birdies on both 15 and 16 to pull within a shot of the lead.
Despite missing a golden chance to tie things up with a birdie at the short par-4 17th, Taylor then stuffed his wedge shot to within 10 feet on 18 and he buried the clutch birdie putt to force a playoff with Hoffman.
Both players converted from inside of 15 feet for birdie on the first extra hole, the par-4 18th, and then Taylor sealed the deal on the second extra hole when making birdie once more from similar range.
Earlier in the day, Zach Johnson raged at fans in the gallery who spoke about his Ryder Cup captaincy, while Billy Horschel unloaded on a golf fan.
WM Phoenix Open Final Leaderboard
-21 N Taylor (Can)*, C Hoffman (US)
-18 S Scheffler, S Burns (US)
-17 S Theegala (US)
* Taylor won with birdie at second extra hole
