The PGA Tour was almost an afterthought as the big guns of professional golf took on Royal Troon in the 2016 British Open, but for Australian Aaron Baddeley, those cats being away resulted in his win of the Barbasol Championship in Opelika, Alabama.
Baddeley took home a healthy $630,000 U.S. paycheck for the win, but he had to work for every penny to win a four-hole playoff after him and Si Woo Kim finished regulation play tied at 18-under par 266.
Baddeley was at one time considered a future star, but he has never realised the types of results matching those earlier expectations.
The win gave him just his fourth PGA Tour victory and comes at a fortuitous time. Baddeley will receive a two-year exemption from qualifying for PGA Tour events and an invitation to the PGA Championship at the end of July.
Baddeley’s most recent previous win was five years ago in the 2011 Northern Trust Open. The big payday and the added perks come exactly when needed.
Kim appeared to have the tournament in hand when he took a one-shot lead into the 72nd hole, but he bogeyed the 18th to fall into the playoff with Baddeley, despite shooting a final round 63.
