On an eighth sudden-death playoff hole, Harris English birdied to defeat Kramer Hickok and win the Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., on Sunday, ending the second-longest sudden-death playoff in PGA Tour history.
Sunday's playoff was the sixth to go eight holes. Only one sudden-death playoff has lasted longer — the 1949 Motor City Open, which lasted 11 playoff holes before golfers Lloyd Mangrum and Cary Middlecoff were declared co-winners.
After Hickok forced a playoff with a birdie on the par-4 18th hole to tie English at 13 under for the tournament, the pair proceeded to play hole No. 18 six times and No. 17 twice, each parring the first seven playoff holes before English made birdie on 18.
Both players had chances to win earlier in the playoff, with Hickok watching a birdie putt lip out on the fifth playoff hole, and English leaving one right of the hole on the seventh.
"It was tough. I mean, my hamstrings were getting tired, my back was getting tired. I know Kramer was probably feeling the same thing," English said. "You've got to lock in and make every shot the most important."
English, who entered the tournament ranked No. 19 in the world, won his fourth career PGA Tour event and second of 2021, making him the first player to win multiple events this year. He finished third in the U.S. Open last week.
Hickok, who was ranked No. 331 in the world, was seeking his first PGA Tour victory.
Marc Leishman finished third at 12 under, while Abraham Ancer was fourth at 11 under. Brooks Koepka was part of a five-way tie for fifth at 10 under.
Bubba Watson, who entered the final round tied with Hickok for the lead at 10 under, fell apart on the back nine Sunday, notching four bogeys and a double bogey on his final five holes to finish tied for 19th at 7 under. A three-time Travelers Championship winner, Watson was looking for his first PGA Tour victory of any kind since the Travelers in 2018.
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