PGA golf: Harris English outlasts Kramer Hickok to win eight-hole Travellers play-off

Harris English outduelled Kramer Hickok in a marathon eight-hole play-off on Sunday to win the Travellers Championship at Cromwell, Connecticut.

English won on the 26th hole of the final round when he made a 16-foot birdie putt on the 18th. It is the 31-year-old’s second victory of the season (both in play-offs) and fourth career win on the PGA Tour.

The 29-year-old Hickok, who was seeking his first PGA Tour win, forced the play-off by sinking an eight-foot birdie putt on 18. He shot a three-under 67 and English shot 65 through 18 holes at TPC River Highlands as both finished four rounds at 13-under 267.

“Kind of sorry it took seven or eight holes, but we were both grinding,” English said of a play-off that lasted two-plus hours. “Kramer is a hell of a competitor. We were both fighting to the end and that’s what you want.”

Hickok had a chance to earn the victory on the fifth play-off hole at No. 17 but his birdie putt lipped out. He tapped in for par and English matched him and the play-off continued.

“It was a huge learning experience for me,” Hickok said. “It was just a tremendous day. I mean, it was just a hard-fought battle out there. Played tough. Kudos to Harris. He battled so hard. There were times I put him in a tough spot, he put me in a tough spot, and he came out on top and he’s a true champion.”

The only longer sudden-death playoff in PGA history was when Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff were declared co-winners after 11 play-off holes due to darkness in the 1949 Motor City Open in Northville, Michigan.

The sudden-death play-off was the longest on the PGA Tour since John Huh defeated Robert Allenby in another eight-hole playoff at the 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico.

Australia’s Marc Leishman shot a final-round 64 and finished one shot back in third. Mexico’s Abraham Ancer (65) was fourth at 11 under.

Bubba Watson, who shared the third-round lead with Hickok, collapsed over the final five holes. Watson shot six-over during the stretch with a double-bogey and four bogeys to finish at three-over 73 and a tie for 19th at seven-under.

Watson won the event in 2010, 2015 and 2018 but didn’t have the magic touch down the stretch this time.

“So I’m glad that I was there, had the opportunity,” Watson said. “You know, I would love to do it again next week, throw up on myself again. It would be great. I want to have the opportunity and the chance to win.”