Taylor beats Echavarria in playoff to take PGA Hawaii title

By AFP
January 14, 2025
Canadas Nick Taylor reacts after chipping in for an eagle from 60 feet on the 18th green during the final round on his way to victory at the PGA Sony Open in Hawaii © Maddie Meyer. —AFP/File
Canada's Nick Taylor reacts after chipping in for an eagle from 60 feet on the 18th green during the final round on his way to victory at the PGA Sony Open in Hawaii © Maddie Meyer. —AFP/File

LOS ANGELES: Canada´s Nick Taylor birdied the second playoff hole to defeat Colombia´s Nico Echavarria and win the Sony Open in Hawaii on Sunday for his fifth career US PGA Tour triumph.

Taylor holed out a 60-foot eagle chip-in on the 72nd hole of regulation while Echavarria birdied 16 and 18 to force extra holes at Honolulu´s windy Waialae Country Club. After trailing almost all day, Taylor then sank a clutch birdie putt on the first playoff hole and landed his third shot inside three feet on the second to set up the winning putt after Echavarria three-putted.