Jonathan Byrd fired a hole-in-one at the fourth playoff hole on Sunday to seize victory in the USPGA Shriners Hospital Open in stunning style as darkness closed in.
Byrd, last year’s champion Martin Laird of Scotland and Australian Cameron Percy debated whether to keep going after all three remained in the playoff after three holes.
They decided to press on in the fading light.
Byrd, first off the tee as they returned to the par-three 17th for the fourth playoff hole, erased the specter of a return yesterday morning with one swing.
His shot at the 204-yard hole landed 10 feet short and disappeared into the cup, golf’s version of hitting the jackpot at the TPC Summerlin in the gambling haven of Las Vegas.
Because of the darkness, Byrd didn’t realize immediately that it went in.
“I didn’t see it,” he said. “I’m in shock. I think the people at the green were the only people who could see it.”
As Laird and Percy moved to make their tee shots, Byrd was caught by a television -camera muttering: “You’ve got to be kidding.”
It was no joke, however, and the American notched his first victory of this year and the fourth of his USPGA Tour career.
After some congratulatory handshakes, Percy and Laird had to hole out to extend the playoff to yesterday.
Their tee shots went left and they both found the water, giving Byrd the title.
Byrd had birdied three of the last four holes of regulation to put himself in the playoff.
He carded a final-round 68, while Aussie Tour rookie Percy shot a 67 and Laird a 69 to finish 72 holes on 21-under 263.
Byrd nearly found water on the third extra hole, but saved par from seven feet to stay alive.
The trio huddled with officials after the third hole.
A PGA Tour official came out and told the players the decision was theirs if they wanted to continue in the fading light.
Byrd said he’d leave up to the others and the group decided if they teed off and couldn’t see on the green, they would return yesterday morning.
So they all figured out there was just enough light to maybe play one more hole and as it turned out Byrd needed only one more swing.
“I kept preaching to myself all day, hang in there,” Byrd said. “What an unbelievable day.”
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