Tways join list of father-son Tour winners as Kevin wins maiden PGA title at Safeway Open

Kevin Tway outlasted Brandt Snedeker and Ryan Moore in a playoff at the Safeway Open on Sunday to claim his maiden PGA Tour title – making history in the process

Kevin Tway birdied all three playoff holes in a row to win his first ever PGA Tour title at the Safeway Open, defeating Brandt Snedeker and Ryan Moore in sudden death.

Brandt Snedeker held a five shot lead with 11 holes to play but suffered a back-nine collapse which opened the door for Tway and Moore. Three bogeys in a row from the 10th left Snedeker in need of pars over his final two holes to win his second title of the year, but a bogey on the 17th instead left him in a three-way playoff at 14-under-par.

“I’m gonna look back on that one in a few years as, man, I really gave that one away,” Snedeker said. “It sucks right now. Playing next week so I’ll dwell on it, take the positives … I played 63 holes of really damn good golf and nine holes I’d like to have back.”

Ryan Moore came from 7 shots behind at the start of the day with three birdies in his final four holes, while Tway’s back-to-back gains on the final two holes of regulation play matched Moore and Snedeker’s total. 

Snedeker was the first to be eliminated with an opening par, while Moore and Tway swapped birdies for the first two playoff holes. Tway then carded his third birdie in a row to secure his maiden PGA Tour victory. 

“I’m kind of at a loss for words,” he said afterwards. 

Tway’s father, Bob Tway, also secured his first victory in a playoff 32 years ago at Torrey Pines, making them the 10th father and son Tour winners. 

“I think he’s probably crying, to be honest,” Kevin Tway said of his dad. “He’s pretty proud of me. It’s been a long ride but this is why you work hard right here.”

List of father and PGA Tour winners

Tom Morris, Sr. (1861 British Open Championship) and Tom Morris, Jr. (1868 British Open Championship)

Willie Park, Sr. (1860 British Open Championship) and Willie Park, Jr. (1887 British Open Championship)

Joe Kirkwood, Sr. (1923 California Open) Joe Kirkwood, Jr. (1949 Philadelphia Inquirer Open)

Jack Burke, Sr. (1925 Texas PGA Championship) and Jack Burke, Jr. (1950 Rio Grande Valley Open)

Clayton Heafner (1941 Mahoning Valley Open) and Vance Heafner (1981 Walt Disney World National Team Championship with Mike Holland)

Julius Boros (1952 US Open) and Guy Boros (1996 Greater Vancouver Open)

Al Geiberger (1962 Ontario Open) and Brent Geiberger (1999 Canon Greater HartfordOpen)

Jay Haas (1978 Andy Williams San Diego Open Invitational) and Bill Haas (2010 Bob Hope Classic)

Craig Stadler (1980 Bob Hope Desert Classic) and Kevin Stadler (2014 Waste Manangement Phoenix Open)

Bob Tway (1986 Shearson Lehman Brothers Andy Williams Open) and Kevin Tway (2018 Safeway Open)