Kevin Kisner left no doubt this time.
The 31-year-old Kisner, who lost in playoffs three times during the 2014-15 season and finished second in his last outing at the WGC-HSBC Champions, captured his first PGA Tour victory by six strokes in the RSM Classic on the Seaside Course at Sea Island Resort in Sea Island, Ga.
“I’ve just been playing so well all year,” said Kisner, who made three birdies on the first five holes and five on the front nine to extend his three-stroke lead, kick-starting his second straight 6-under-par 64. “I knew one day it was going to happen when I was going to make all the putts. I did it on the front nine.
“I knew I needed to come out and make some birdies early because other guys were going to. I was able to do that and it calmed me down heading to the back nine. I couldn’t have been happier taking a five-shot lead down the last hole.”
Everyone else was playing for second and Kevin Chappell of Fresno and UCLA got it with a 67 despite a bogey on the last hole.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, who won the OHL Classic at Mayakoba last week, also shot 67 and was seven strokes back in third, followed by Jon Curran in fourth after a 66 and Freddie Jacobson in fifth with a 67.
Russell Henley carded a 65 that included an eagle on the 15th hole and finished a whopping 11 strokes behind in a tie for sixth with Alex Cejka of Germany, who totaled 70, and Jeff Overton, who came in at 69.
Jamie Lovemark of Rancho Santa Fe and USC posted a 68 and wound up in a tie for ninth that included Jason Dufner (69), Tom Hoge (66), Charles Howell III (68), Chad Campbell (67), Scott Stallings (67), John Huh (66), Lucas Glover (68), and David Hearn (69) of Canada.
