Dufner works overtime to win Zurich Classic
JASON DUFNER beat Ernie Els with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Sunday in the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., to win for the first time in 164 starts on the PGA Tour. Entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana, while Els had a 67 to match Dufner at 19-under 269.
JASON DUFNER beat Ernie Els with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Sunday in the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La., to win for the first time in 164 starts on the PGA Tour.
Entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana, while Els had a 67 to match Dufner at 19-under 269.
Both missed birdie putts within 8 feet on the par-5 18th in the first playoff, so they went back to the 18th tee for the second extra hole, which Dufner won by hitting the green in two strokes and tapping home a short birdie putt after Els' birdie attempt from the fringe narrowly missed.
Dufner lost playoffs last year to Mark Wilson in the Phoenix Open and Keegan Bradley in the PGA Championship for two of his three career runner-up finishes.
"It's always really tough playing on Sundays whether you're in lead or middle of pack, and today I was fighting, trying to win event, and I think I showed myself a good bit out there," Dufner said. "It was tough. Ernie made a great run at me and it felt like with five or six holes [to go] we were probably going to be battling for the win.
In other tournaments
At Mobile, Fla., Stacy Lewis won the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic for her second LPGA Tour title, holding off hard-charging teen Lexi Thompson by a stroke.
Lewis, who held a five-stroke lead early in the day, closed with a 69 to finish at 17-under 271.
At Seoul, South Korea, Austria's Bernd Wiesberger won the Ballantine's Championship for his first European Tour title, closing with a 4-under 68 for a five-stroke victory at 18-under 270.