Blixt-Smith, Kisner-Brown set for Monday playoff in Zurich Classic

 Kevin Kisner chipped in for eagle on the 72nd hole as he and teammate Scott Brown forced a Monday playoff with Jonas Blixt and Cameron Smith at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Darkness was falling as Kisner's chip rolled across the green, hit the pin and dropped, with Australia's Smith responding with a birdie putt from inside two feet that kept him and Sweden's Blixt in the title hunt.

"I just told myself, get it there," Kisner said. "It's just one of those shots that you dream about."

Both teams finished regulation on 27-under par 261 after Sunday's better-ball round, in which Blixt and Smith shot 64 and Kisner and Brown carded a sizzling 60.

The tournament is the first US PGA Tour team event in 36 years. It featured two-man teams playing two better ball rounds and two alternate shot rounds.

Blixt and Smith -- who is seeking a first US tour title -- have barely put a foot wrong, finishing regulation play without a bogey.

They led after 36 and 54 holes, and withstood a furious charge by Kisner and Brown, who birdied 10 of their first 11 holes to grab the lead.

Six of those birdies came before play was halted for more than six hours as thunderstorms swept through.

With Blixt's birdie at 16 and Smith's at 17 the duo regained a one-shot lead.

It looked like that would be enough when Smith then gave himself a short birdie putt at 18.

But Kisner's chip-in means all four will return on Monday morning to settle things.

"Well, we knew we had to have it," Kisner said. "All I was trying to do was make sure I didn't leave it short, and I couldn't see much. I knew it was breaking a little right, and when it hit the flag, I said, 'Don't you come out of there.'

"I knew I was going to make it the whole time. No, I'm just kidding."

Blixt said he and Smith were confident in their games, so when Kisner and Brown mounted their charge "I wasn't really stressed out about it."

"Someone had to get hot in order to catch us today, and they did," Blixt said.

"We have another shot at it tomorrow," he added of the better ball playoff. "We just have to leave this behind and try to go out there and make birdie or eagle on 18 tomorrow and try and win this tournament."

Americans Kelly Kraft and Kevin Tway were third after combining for a 61 that left them on 265.

It was further stroke back to former world number one Jordan Spieth and fellow Texan Ryan Palmer, who carded a 64 for 266.

Source : AFP