HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Jim Furyk had gone 100 starts without winning, a stretch that gnawed at his psyche and challenged his confidence.
That all disappeared Sunday when he won his first PGA Tour title in five years with birdies on both playoff holes to outlast Kevin Kisner at the RBC Heritage.
Furyk, typically reserved, dropped his putter in anticipation as the winning putt approached the cup on the par-3 17th, then punched the air after the ball went in.
"There was was 41/2 years of frustration in that celebration," said Furyk, who won at Harbour Town Golf Links for the second time.
Furyk's other victory here came in 2010 in what turned out to be the best year of his career. He won two other events, including the Tour Championship, and captured the $10 million FedEx Cup.
Furyk won the 2003 U.S. Open and entered this tournament ranked 10th in the world, but he has struggled to close out events. He was 0 of 9 when leading tournaments after three rounds since that Tour Championship victory. Furyk, 44, said he always believed he'd win again.
"But I was starting to feel like this game is beating me up, and the losing hurts a lot more than winning feels good," he said. "I think I just forget how good" it feels to win.
A $1.062 million payday contributes mightily to the good feeling.
It was Kisner's best finish on the PGA Tour.
Furyk led by a stroke when Kisner birdied the 72nd hole to force the playoff, the fourth in the last six tournaments. On the first extra hole, Kisner rolled in a second consecutive birdie putt on the 18th. But Furyk answered with a birdie to keep the playoff going. Kisner missed his birdie try on No. 17, and Furyk sank a 12-foot putt for his 17th career PGA Tour victory.
Furyk shot a 63 and Kisner a 64, leaving them both at 18-under 266. Third-round leader Troy Merritt was at 16 under after a 69. Defending champion Matt Kuchar (68) was at 14 under and Masters winner Jordan Spieth (70) was eight shots back.
Furyk had six birdies on his first nine holes, including a 48-footer on the par-4 eighth that moved him in front. A bogey on the 11th dropped Furyk into a four-way tie for first, but he responded with birdies on three of the next four holes and seemed set for an easy ride.
When his long putt on No. 8 rolled in, Furyk said he began to think "this may be the day." Kisner, though, chased him down on the back nine. He birdied the 14th and 15th to pull within a stroke and stuck his approach on the signature lighthouse hole at No. 18 within 7 feet for a tying birdie.
Kisner said he expected Furyk, who made 11 birdies in 20 holes, to tie him after his putt on the first playoff hole.
"You don't expect a guy of Jim's caliber to miss a 6-footer straight up the hill," Kisner said.
Bryce Molder (Conway) shot a 4-under 67 to finish at 10 under and in a tie for 15th place, good enough for $100,300.
CHAMPIONS
Browne wins shortened event
DULUTH, Ga. -- Olin Browne won the Champions Tour's Greater Gwinnett Championship after constant rain forced the cancellation of the final round.
Browne, 57, set the tournament record with a second-round 64 to take the lead at 12 under. Bernhard Langer then matched the record to move into second place, a stroke back.
Rain forced Friday's first round to be suspended and then completed Saturday morning. There was more rain, but no delays, on Saturday, followed by heavy rain Saturday night and Sunday morning.
Browne's only other career victory on the tour came in the 2011 U.S. Senior Open.
PGA EUROPEAN
Eagle spurs Aphibarnrat
SHENZHEN, China -- Thailand's Kiradech Aphibarnrat won the Shenzhen International, rallying with an eagle on the 17th hole and beating Chinese teenager Li Haotong on the first hole of a playoff.
On the playoff hole, Kiradech hit his approach shot to the middle of the 18th green and made his birdie putt, while Li two-putted for par.
Kiradech had an even-par 72 to match the 19-year-old Lo at 12-under 276. Li shot a 67.
England's Tommy Fleetwood was a stroke back after a 69. Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson had a 65 to tie for 29th at 5 under.
WEB.COM
Roach rolls in Mexico
LEON, Mexico -- Wes Roach won the El Bosque Mexico Championship for his first Web.com Tour title, beating Kevin Tway and Patton Kizzire by four strokes.
Roach, the 26-year-old former Duke player from Knoxville, Tenn., closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 17-under 271 at El Bosque Golf Club. He earned $126,000.
Kizzire shot a 67, and Tway had a 71.
Andrew Landry (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 4-under 68 to finish at 7 under and in a tie for 23rd and won $6,498. Sebastian Cappelen (Razorbacks) finished a stroke behind at 6 under and won $4,855. Scott Gardiner (Farmington) was at 4 over after a 73 and won $1,813 for his 59th-place finish. Zack Fisher (Little Rock) placed 63rd with a 5 over and earned $1,771.
Sports on 04/20/2015