Patrick Reed holed a 19-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to turn back Jimmy Walker and win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on the Plantation Course at Kapalua Resort outside Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii.
The 24-year-old Reed, who won for the third time in the last calendar year and the fourth since 2013, closed with a 6-under-par 67, including an eagle on the 16th hole, where he wedged his second shot into the hole from 80 yards.
“I just tried to stay patient all day and not get ahead of myself,” said Reed, who will take a week off before defending his title in the Humana Challenge in La Quinta. “I was fortunate enough to hole that shot on No. 16 and to make this putt here to win it.
“My confidence level is really high, but it’s early in the year and I have to keep on working to get better. I want to be a multiple winner for years to come.”
Walker, who won three times on the PGA Tour last season, held a three-stroke lead at one stage of the final round, but didn’t make a birdie after the 10th hole and missed a four-foot putt at No. 14 to make bogey en route to a 69.
Jason Day of Australia closed with a bogey-free 62 to tie the course record set by K.J. Choi of South Korea in 2003 and finished one stroke back in a tie for third with Russell Henley, who shot 67, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who came in at 70.
Defending champion Zach Johnson finished with a 67 to wind up four shots back in solo seventh, followed another stroke behind by Robert Streb, who shot 69 and tied for eighth with Brendon Todd, who had a 71.
Masters champion Bubba Watson was solo 10th after a 71.
