Ian Poulter Fades As Satoshi Kodaira Wins RBC Heritage

(Image credit: Getty Images)

published 16 April 2018

Kodaira becomes just the fifth Japanese player to win on the PGA Tour

Ian Poulter Fades As Satoshi Kodaira Wins RBC Heritage

Satoshi Kodaira became just the fifth Japanese golfer to win on the PGA Tour after victory at the RBC Heritage.

The 28-year-old beat Si Woo Kim on the third playoff hole at Harbour Town after Kim spurned a couple of great chances late on in regulation.

Kodaira holed a 25 footer on the par-3 17th, the third playoff hole, to win his biggest title to date.

The six-time Japan Golf Tour winner moves up to a career-high of 27th in the world and is now a PGA Tour member.

“This is a stage I’ve been dreaming about,” Kodaira said after victory.

“And having this opportunity to play [the PGA Tour] fulltime is a dream come true."

Kodaira made the press room laugh with his answer to the question about his new plaid jacket.

“I will probably not wear it regularly,” he said through an interpreter. “But this is special.”

Kodaira's final day highlights:

Ian Poulter was looking for his second PGA Tour victory in three starts and held the lead after 54 holes in what was his sixth straight week out on Tour.

He came home in 40 to sign for a 75 and end in a tie for 7th, three strokes back of the playoff. A level par 71 would have been enough for victory.

RBC Heritage leaderboard:

1 Satoshi Kodaira -12

2 Si Woo Kim -12

T3 Bryson DeChambeau -11

T3 Luke List -11

T5 Billy Horschel -10

T5 Webb Simpson -10

T7 Byeong Hun An -9

T7 Patrick Cantlay -9

T7 Bill Haas -9

T7 Chesson Hadley -9

T7 Kevin Kisner -9

T7 Ian Poulter -9

T7 Kevin Streelman -9

*Note: Player score in bold signifies Titleist ball usage

Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-6. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!

Elliott is currently playing:

Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max

Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max

Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x