HONOLULU — Grayson Murray stuffed a wedge to 3 feet for birdie on the 18th hole for a 3-under 67 to join a three-way playoff then won the Sony Open with a 40-foot birdie putt to set himself up for a potentially lucrative year.
Murray felt like a renewed person even before starting the season in Hawaii. He said he had been sober for eight months and was in a better frame of mine.
But Sunday's win — Murray's first in more than six years — came at an ideal time. The victory not only gets him in the Masters for the first time, Murray now has a spot in the $20 million signature events the rest of the season.
As big as the win was for Murray, it was a tough loss for Byeong Hun An and Keegan Bradley. An was short of the par-5 18th green in the playoff in thick rough and pitched on to 4 feet, giving him the best chance at winning.