Spieth beats Cantlay with playoff bunker shot to 7 inches

HILTON HEAD ISLAND S.C.
 Jordan Spieth hit a 56-foot shot from a greenside bunker to 7 inches and beat Patrick Cantlay with the tap-in par putt on the first hole of a playoff Sunday in the RBC Heritage.

Spieth, who was playing four groups ahead Cantlay, birdied Harbour Town’s par-4 18th hole lighthouse hole. In regulation, Spieth holing an 11-footer for a 5-under 666 and 13 over 271 total. Cantlay parred 18th in regulation to score a 68.

Spieth was one stroke behind Shane Lowry when he finished his round. Lowry’s chip at the par-3 14th was a long shot that ran across the green and into water. This led to double bogey. After a 69, he finished one stroke behind.

Cantlay hit into the front bunker during the playoff. His lie looked almost like a fried eggs. He missed the par putt after he blasted 35ft past the cup.

Spieth, three strokes behind Harold Varner III when he entered the round, eagled both front nine par 5s to get in the mix.

After winning the Valero Texas open a year ago, to end a four-year drought, Spieth won his 13th PGA Tour championship and second consecutive on Easter Sunday.

Next Easter Sunday The Masters final round.

“That’s great vibes!” saidSpieth is a three-time Masters champion.

Cam Davis (63) was also a strokeback with Varner (71) and J.T. Poston (64), Cameron Young (66), Sepp Straka (68), Matt Kuchar (68).

Spieth has won before from the bunker. Daniel Berger was defeated by Spieth with greenside bunker shot at the 2017 Travelers Championship.

Cantlay missed a birdie chance on the 72nd hole when he was 15 feet short. Straka tied Spieth with a birdie at the 17th. After his approach to the green found some gnarly, long grass, Straka bogeyed that hole. Varner had four birdie chances, but could not convert any.

Spieth departed with the early birds. Spieth holed from a greenside bunker the second time. He reached the green on the fifth hole in two and then rolled in a 24 footer, much to the delight of the crowd.

Spieth finished at 13 under, with a birdie on eighth. He then fell back to 11 below with bogeys and bogeys in the ninth. Spieth moved into striking position on the 13th with a birdie, and then he swung his approach to the drama-filled lighthouse hole down to 10 feet. He posted at 13 under.