By Ron Green Jr. of Global Golf Post

Satoshi Kodaira, a 28-year-old Japanese player, may not be a familiar name to American golf fans but he came to Harbour Town ranked 46th in the world and had a T28 finish at Augusta. He left with his first PGA Tour victory and was projected to move to 27th in the world.

A six-time winner on the Japan Golf Tour, Kodaira made the cut in the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship last year, hinting at his potential on the international stage.

With his victory Sunday, Kodaira will become a member of the PGA Tour, fulfilling a career goal.

“This is a stage I’ve been dreaming about,” Kodaira said. “Having this opportunity to play full time is a dream come true.”

He was four behind Kim on the back nine but birdies at Nos. 14 and 15 put Kodaira in contention. He thought his hope of winning ended with a bogey at the par-3 17th hole but Kim made his own mistakes with bogeys at Nos. 15 and 17.

Kim, a two-time PGA Tour winner, missed putts of 4, 7, 5, and 6 feet on the last four holes of regulation, setting up the playoff.

“I think the wind kind of picked up on the back nine which kind of affected my game,” Kim said. “I didn’t have the momentum going on the final hole in regulation. I missed a short one but I give props to my opponent. He made a great putt at the last one.”

Luke List also missed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that would have given him a spot in the playoff. He finished T3 with Bryson DeChambeau at 11-under par.

Driver: PRGR RS Prototype (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI Quattro Tech 75X

3 Wood: TaylorMade M2 2017 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-DI Quattro Tech 75X

5 Wood: PRGR iD Nabla (18 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD-GP Quattro Tech 75X

Driving Iron: PRGR iD Nabla RS Tour (3 iron)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD HY-105TX

Irons: PRGR Tune (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Wedges: PRGR iD Nabla Tour (52), Fourteen Golf RM-22 (60-10)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue

Putter: Scotty Cameron Tour Only Prototype
Grip: Scotty Cameron Pistol

Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Republished with permission from Global Golf Post.