Xander Schauffele saved his very best for last.
The 25-year-old Schauffele, from La Jolla and San Diego State, birdied the last two holes of regulation and added another birdie on he first playoff hole to defeat Tony Finau in the WGC-HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club http://www.sheshangolf.com/en/ in Shanghai, China.
“I was definitely in sort of an attack mode, and I was hitting good shots all day, making good putts,” said Schauffele, the 2017 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year who claimed his third victory on the circuit. “I was doing everything that I needed to do.
“I was pretty nervous after I birdied 17 on the walk over to 18. … It was a finish (I) needed, and it feels good to clutch up when necessary.”
Schauffele, who also came from behind to win the Greenbrier Classic and the Tour Championship last year, closed with a 4-under-par 68, while Finau had a 71 as they finished 72 holes at 14-under 274.
Third-ranked Justin Rose of England, the defending champion, closed with a 72 to wind up four strokes back in solo third, while Andrew Putnam of Pepperdine also shot 72 and was six back in a tie for fourth with Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand, who had a 71.
Keegan Bradley was seven back in sixth after a 72, while Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos and UCLA also totaled 72 and was eight down in a tie for eighth with Thorbjorn Olesen (72) of Norway, Tommy Fleetwood (75) of England and Patrick Reed (77).
Tenth-ranked Jason Day of Australia tied for 11th after a 74, top-ranked Brooks Koepka shot 69 to tie for 16th and eighth-ranked Jon Rahm of Spain tied for 22nd following a 71.
Second-ranked Dustin Johnson also had a 71 to tie for 30th, sixth-ranked Francesco Molinari of Italy tied for 43rd after a 69, and fifth-ranked Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland totaled 74 to tie for 54th.
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