Danny Lee of New Zealand claimed his first victory on the PGA Tour with a par on the second playoff hole to turn back David Hearn of Canada and win the Greenbrier Classic on the Old White TPC in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va.
Kevin Kisner and Robert Streb, who broke his putter on the 10th hole and putted with a wedge on the back nine in regulation, were eliminated on the first playoff hole when the could not match a 17-foot birdie putt by Lee and a 16-footer by Hearn.
The 24-year-old Lee, who was born in South Korea but moved with his family to New Zealand when he was 8, closed with a 67 but missed a 20-foot birdie putt that would have given him the victory in regulation.
However, his winning putt on the playoff hole at the same green was on a similar line.
“I had that same putt before, so I knew it was going in,” said Lee, who won the 2010 U.S. Amateur champion and earned his only other pro victories in Japan. ” … All I can say is, wow! It feels amazing.
“This victory means so much to me. I was close so many times. I finally know what winning on the PGA Tour feels like. … I want to make (the International team for) the Presidents Cup this year in South Korea and I felt I had to win to do it.
“I’m so happy. It’s such a good feeling.”
Hearn, looking for his first PGA Tour victory after winning once on the Web.com Tour and once on the Canadian Tour, also closed with a 67 and missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation.
However, the Canadian drove into trouble on the second playoff hole, hit a poor lay up shot and sent his approach over the green, opening the door for Lee to win with his par.
Kisner, who won twice on the Web.com Tour, closed with a 64 that included a lone bogey on the seventh hole, while Streb, who won the McGladrey Classic early this season, had a 65 that included five birdies on the back nine despite being without his putter.
Russell Henley missed the playoff by one stroke and finished solo fourth after a 63 that included birdies on five of the last eight holes, but he had costly bogeys on the second and 10th holes.
James Hahn of Alameda and Cal posted a 66 and wound up two shots back in a tie for fifth with Greg Owen (67) of England, Brendon Todd (68), Andres Romero (67) of Argentina, Chad Collins (69), David Lingmerth (68) of Sweden and Bryce Molder (70).
Bubba Watson, coming off his victory in the Travelers Championship, closed with a 67 and wound up three strokes back in a tie for 13th with rookie Tony Finau (67), Scott Langley (65), Morgan Hoffman (66), J.J. Henry (67), Shawn Stefani (67), Jason Bohn (71), Sean O’Hair (71) and Steven Bowditch (67) of Australia.
Tiger Woods recorded his first bogey-free score since the first day of the 2013 Barclays some 13 months ago, a span of 55 rounds, closing with a 67 to tie for 32nd after posting three scores in the 60s.
