Reed wins in playoff at Kapalua

KAPALUA, Hawaii (AP) ― Four shots behind with four holes to play, Patrick Reed made two birdies and holed out from 80 yards for an eagle Monday, and then closed out his unlikely rally by making an 18-foot birdie putt to beat Jimmy Walker in a playoff at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

The PGA Tour started a new year without a host of big names, but got a compelling finish at Kapalua.

Reed charged back into the picture with his eagle on the 16th hole, a shot that spun back toward the hole and hit the pin before dropping.

After three-putting from 100 feet just off the green for bogey on the 17th, he two-putted from 80 feet for birdie on the par-5 closing hole for a 6-under 67.

Then it was up to Walker, trying to become the fifth player to win both PGA Tour events in Hawaii.

For the second straight day, Walker didn’t make birdie after the 10th hole, and this time it cost him.

The only big mistake in regulation was trying to play it safe off the short par-4 14th and hitting 4-iron into a bunker. He went over the green and made bogey, his first bogey in 33 holes.

Walker missed birdie putts inside 10 feet on the next two holes. He then wasted a good shot at birdie on the 18th when his chip came out soft and he was short on an 18-foot birdie putt.

He shot 69 and joined Reed at 21-under 271.

In the playoff, Walker again had the advantage when Reed couldn’t come close to reaching the green. Walker, however, hit it well right into the rough, and this time the chip came out hot and went over the green. He chipped to 6 feet and never had to putt.

Reed hit wedge into 18 feet and holed the putt, giving the 24-year-old his fourth PGA Tour victory and second in a playoff.

“It was there for me to win,” Walker said. “It was a bummer I didn’t close the door on it.”