Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith won the Zurich Classic on the fourth playoff hole, triumphing in a new-format tournament that had been held over a day because of darkness.
Smith hit a 58-yard approach shot within a couple feet of the pin, and the Aussie sank a birdie putt on the par-five 18th hole to give himself and his Swedish teammate the victory. Smith and Blixt could have won on earlier playoff holes, but missed short birdie putts.
For the 23-year-old Smith, this was his first PGA Tour victory.
Kevin Kisner and Scott Brown had combined for a 12-under 60 on Sunday to force the playoff. Kisner made a chip-in from nearly 95 feet on No 18, but darkness prevented further play.
Blixt and Smith led by a stroke after two rounds and by four after three. They had fallen behind by two strokes, with Kisner and Brown birdieing 10 of their first 11 holes Sunday. But they rallied with birdies on No 12, 15 and 16 to regain a one-stroke lead heading into the final hole of regulation, which they wound up having to birdie to force the playoff after Kisner’s clutch chip.
Both teams finished four rounds at 27-under par at the par-72 TPC Louisiana in suburban New Orleans.
