3 minute read

Victoria's Josh Younger has won the NSW Open in a playoff against NSW's Travis Smyth.

Victoria's Josh Younger has bounced back from an 18th hole disaster to claim a long-awaited maiden tour victory, winning the NSW Open in a sudden-death playoff with Wollongong youngster Travis Smyth.

The breakthrough victory and $72,000 winner's cheque will give world No.963 Younger's career a huge boost.

But it could have been a very different story for a man who already had three runner-up finishes.

The 35-year-old Younger appeared to have the title in his grasp when he arrived at the 18th at Sydney's Twin Creeks course with the lead at 19-under but he hit his tee shot in the water and took a double bogey.

That ended up putting him into a playoff with Smyth after both men finished with rounds of 71 to tie at 17-under 271, one shot clear of exciting youngster Min Woo Lee (73).

Younger holed a putt from off the 18th green for par on the first extra hole to continue the playoff as Smyth made a regulation par.

And he clinched the title with a six-foot birdie putt after a superb approach shot when they played the hole again, as Smyth missed from 25 feet.

It's a relief. I've been (on tour) 10 years. I got pipped in a playoff in New Zealand PGA in 2016, finished runner up at the (Australian) Masters..it's just so hard to win, that's the reality of it," said Younger, who shot a nine-under 63 to lead after the first round

"Normally when you make six down the last it's all over, you need things to go your way. But it's a massive relief."