Jim Furyk ends almost five-year winless drought at RBC Heritage

It was a long time in coming, but with a 12-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at the RBC Heritage, Jim Furyk is once again a winner on the PGA Tour.

Furyk beat Kevin Kisner with his 11th birdie in 20 holes played on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, S.C. In regulation, Furyk made nine birdies against just one dropped shot, turning in 8-under 63. However, Kisner’s 64, including a 72nd-hole birdie, forced overtime at 18-under 266.

On the first playoff hole, Furyk, playing first, stuck his approach shot to the 18th close for birdie. Kisner hit an impressive shot, too, just outside of Furyk. Both players made birdie to send the playoff to the 17th hole.

Again, Furyk found the range on the tough par 3 and then sank the winning putt for his first victory since the 2010 Tour Championship. Furyk celebrated his 17th PGA Tour win with fist pumps resembling the ones he made in similarly inclement Atlanta weather almost five years ago to win the FedEx Cup and its $ 10 million bounty.

The 2003 U.S. Open champion hasn’t faced a lack of chances to win since the culmination of that three-win season. He’s been 0-for-9 with at least a share of the 54-hole lead since that Tour Championship win — a statistic that didn’t improve on Sunday as he trailed Troy Merritt by four heading into the final round. The 44-year-old had finished second seven times and won almost $ 15 million on the PGA Tour since that last win.

Merritt finished two shots out of the playoff after shooting a third 69 on the week. Defending champion Matt Kuchar was solo fifth at 14-under total, and new Masters champion Jordan Spieth finished eight shots back and T-11.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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