Taylor wins first Champions title with second playoff-hole birdie

Vaughn Taylor birdied the second playoff hole to beat Alex Cejka at the Constellation Furyk & Friends on Sunday, earning his first PGA Tour Champions title at the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast, Florida.

Both players finished regulation at 17-under 199. Taylor closed with a 68 after rounds of 65 and 66; Cejka shot consecutive 65s over the weekend after opening with a 69. They returned to the par-four 18th and each made par before playing it again. Field Level Media reported that Taylor hit his approach about six feet from the cup and made the winning putt.

Taylor began the final round three shots behind Mathew Goggin. Five consecutive birdies on holes 10 through 14 helped put him into the contest. It was a breakthrough in his first Champions season after turning 50 in March, with his previous best finish on the circuit a tie for seventh.

The playoff followed a costly finish for Michael Wright. He took the outright lead at 18 under with birdies on the 15th and 16th, but made double bogey on the closing hole. A par would have won the tournament; a bogey would have put him into the playoff. Wright instead finished third at 16-under 200 after a final-round 69.

Cejka had reached the clubhouse at 17 under by birdieing the last hole of a bogey-free 65. Taylor ultimately matched him in regulation before the second trip through the playoff's closing hole separated them.

The official leaderboard lists Taylor's winner's share at $330,000. Wright finished one shot behind the playoff participants. Ben Crane, Ángel Cabrera, Ryan Armour, Rod Pampling and Goggin tied for fourth at 15 under.

The Champions schedule continues with the SAS Championship in North Carolina next week. Field Level Media reported Taylor was projected to climb to No. 21 in the Charles Schwab Cup points race, with one regular-season event left before the playoffs.

Sources

PGA Tour Champions: official Furyk & Friends results · Field Level Media: Taylor playoff and Wright finish · Golf News Net: final scores and prize money