Sanderson Farms: Munoz defeats Im in playoff for first PGA Tour title

Sebastian Munoz earns maiden PGA Tour title at Sanderson Farms Championship after defeating Sungjae Im on the first playoff hole

Sebastian Munoz became the sixth consecutive player to win their maiden PGA Tour title at the Sanderson Farms Championship with a par on the first playoff hole to beat last season’s PGA Tour Rookie of the year Sungjae Im.

Munoz, who holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to force the first sudden death playoff on the PGA Tour since November 2018 (39 events), took advantage of a mistake from Im as he made an up and down par for his first title. 

With his victory, he becomes just the second player from Colombia to win on the PGA Tour, following Joaquin Niemann’s win last week which saw him earn the title of Chile’s first PGA Tour Champion. 

Like Niemann, the win was something of a full circle for Munoz: Niemann made his first start on the PGA Tour at the same place he got his maiden Tour victory last week, and Munoz did exactly the same thing, having made his first appearance on the PGA Tour at this event three years ago. 

“I’m so thrilled to be here, and to be the champion,” said Munoz.

“I always will have a special connection to Jackson, Mississippi, because this was the first event I played as a PGA Tour member back in 2016 so it’s just one of those places I will cherish and this moment just add on to that.

“Just really happy and blessed to be here.”

Munoz began the day with the 54-hole-lead and quickly moved ahead further to 17-under with a two-putt birdie at the third. 

He next broke a streak of seven pars with another birdie at the par-five 11th to move to 18-under, while playing partner Carlos Ortiz moved back to within two shots with a birdie of his own at the next. 

Up ahead, Sungjae Im soon set the target of -18 as he tied Munoz at the top with three birdies in a row from 14 to 16, while Byeong Hun An made two birdies in his final four holes to get to within one at 17-under. 

But Munoz looked to be in trouble down the stretch, soon finding himself one stroke behind with three to play after his par putt at the 15th lipped out of the hole. 

Undeterred, he parred the following two holes before draining his must-make 15-footer for birdie to force a playoff against Im, who became the only player all week to shoot four rounds in the 60s following a six-under 66 to finish on 18-under. 

In sudden death, Munoz came up short after with his approach while Im’s mistake left his ball nestled up by a grandstand, leaving an up-and-down par enough for victory.