HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Brian Davis couldn’t deny what he saw and knew he was honor-bound to tell the world.
Davis ticked a loose reed during his backswing Sunday on the first playoff hole, calling a two-stroke penalty on himself that gave Jim Furyk a victory at the Verizon Heritage.
“It’s just awkward to see it happen at such a key moment,” Furyk said. “Awkward for him to lose that way, and a little awkward for me to win.”
Davis immediately asked for PGA Tour tournament director Slugger White and shared what he saw on the shot. White consulted with officials who checked TV replays and confirmed Davis’ worst fear: His violation cost him a chance at his first PGA Tour victory.
What Davis lost on the course will be regained in his reputation for his honorable act, White said.
“That will come back to him in spades, tenfold,” White said.
That was little consolation for Davis, who rolled in a clutch 18-footer for birdie on his final regulation hole to catch Furyk and force overtime.
Davis’ error was indiscernible but for slow motion replays.
“It was one of those things. I thought I saw movement out of the corner of my eye. And I thought we’d check on TV, and indeed, there was movement,” Davis said.
He immediately conceded victory to Furyk, who putted out for his 15th PGA Tour win.
Footnotes.
Bernhard Langer won for the 10th time on the Champions Tour when the final round of the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am in Lutz, Fla., was called off because of rain.
• South Korea’s Y.E. Yang won the China Open in Suzhou, shooting a 1-under 71 to seal a two-stroke victory.
