Hall wins five-way playoff with birdie for first US PGA Tour title

WASHINGTON: England’s Harry Hall chipped in for birdie at the third hole of a five-man sudden-death playoff to win his first US PGA Tour title on Sunday at the ISCO Championship in Nicholasville, Kentucky.

Hall, Pierceson Coody and Matt NeSmith had all missed the green at the par-three ninth, the third hole of the playoff, but Hall popped his chip over the fringe and it rolled into the heart of the cup.

“It’s massive,” said Hall, who said the infusion of 300 Fedex Cup playoff points might give him a chance to take a week off with his wife, Jordan, expecting their first baby next week. “I can probably afford to take the week off now,” he said. “I think it was a bit dicey there, just my position in the FedEx Cup and I probably needed to play every single week, so I’m glad that I might not have to now. Super happy.”

Hall, NeSmith and Coody had all parred the second playoff hole, the par-four 18th, to extend the playoff that had started at 18 -- where Zac Blair and Rico Hoey were eliminated with bogeys.

All five had finished 72 holes at Keene Trace Golf Club at 22-under 266. Hall had grabbed the solo lead at 23-under with his fourth birdie of the day at the 14th -- the toughest hole on the course. But he bogeyed the par-five 15th -- the easiest hole on the course, and closed with a three-under par 69.