2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open: Reflections on a Thriller
Sunday at the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open was all about Hideki Matsuyama and Webb Simpson.
Simpson came surging up the leaderboard after shooting a 7-under round. His final round included 5 birdies and 2 eagles, therefore giving him a share of the lead with Matsuyama walking off the 18th green.
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Matsuyama played a magnificent final round, firing off 3 birdies and one eagle to get in a playoff with Simpson. Matsuyama had an ideal chance to put the tournament away in regulation when he had a birdie putt that rolled just centimeters short.
So the playoff began. While each golfer pared the first three playoff holes, on the fourth Matsuyama buried his 10-foot birdie putt to thump Simpson in route to his back-to-back title in the Grand Canyon State.
Just a year ago, Matsuyama finished off Rickie Fowler in their playoff on the same green.
The Japanese golfing sensation has taken his game to the next level over the past couple of seasons. This tournament win marks Matsuyama’s fourth career PGA Tour victory, ranking the most among Japanese born players ever. Hideki already quickly has two wins and four top 10’s in six events played on Tour this season.
So, this concludes yet another thrilling Waste Management Phoenix Open. Each year this event gets better and better. The fans show up by the thousands and their energy spreads throughout the entire course. Until next year, TPC Scottsdale is signing out.