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SPORTS Tuesday 7 February 2017

Hideki
Matsuyama wins
Phoenix Open THE

playoff _ again

JOHN NICHOLSON
AP Sports Writer WHITE
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) —
Hideki Matsuyama was the
last man standing at golf’s
biggest party — again.
Matsuyama won the STUFF
Waste Management Phoe-
nix Open on the fourth hole
of a playoff for the second
straight year, outlasting
Webb Simpson on Sunday
at TPC Scottsdale.
Matsuyama won with a 10-
foot birdie putt on the short
par-4 17th, the same hole
where the 24-year-old Jap-
anese star finished off Rick-
ie Fowler a year ago.
“I just had faith and be-
lieved that my chance
would come again, and
I just waited and waited,
had patience,” Mat-
suyama said. “Finally, that
last one went in.”
Matsuyama closed with a
5-under 66, parring the final
three holes to match Simp-
son at 17-under 267. On
the par-4 18th in regula-
tion, Matsuyama’s 20-foot
birdie try to win in regula-
tion stopped just short.
“I don’t know how it stayed
out,” Matsuyama said.
“But you can’t be short on
a putt like that.”
Simpson birdied three of
the last four for a 64, the
best round of the day.
“To shoot 7 under on Sun- Tom Brady: James White deserves Super Bowl MVP Award
day, birdieing 17 and 18 is
a great feeling, knowing I
had to do it,” Simpson said.
“But Hideki is a great play-
er, obviously. I knew he’d
be a tough competitor in
the playoff. I wish I could
have a couple of putts New England Patriots’ James
back and hit them a little White celebrates after scoring a
harder.” touchdown during the second
half of the NFL Super Bowl 51
The tournament drew an football game against the Atlan-
estimated 58,654 fans Sun- ta Falcons, Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017,
day to break the weekly in Houston.
record with 655,434. Associated Press
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