Dufner and Lingmerth in playoff at La Quinta

After the duo both managed a par four on the first play-off hole, Lingmerth came undone on the second as his approach shot fell into a lake, leaving Dufner needing only a two-putt par to secure his fourth ever victory on the PGA tour, alongside the $1,044,000 prize money for finishing first.

Jason Dufner won the CareerBuilder Challenge with a par on the second hole of a playoff Sunday, taking advantage of David Lingmerth’s shot off the rocks that bounced into the water. He couldn’t go for the green so had to rely on his wedge play to save him.

The two returned to the 18th tee for the playoff after tying in regulation at 25-under 263 – the 20th playoff in the tournament’s 57-year history.

“It was tough out there today and I didn’t play well on the front nine”.

“The rough is a little heavy in some spots and it grabbed my club a little bit more”, Lingmerth said.

Five men are a shot further back on 12 under, including Jason Gore, whose eight-under 64 on the Tournament Course was the best round of the day.

The Stadium Course has mellowed over the years and equipment technology has helped tame it – a bit.

The 38-year-old Dufner won for the fourth time on the PGA Tour and first since the 2013 PGA Championship.

Dufner kept a share of the lead when he was able to save par on the par-three 17th, despite having his drive bounce off the green into the rocks outlining the water hazard, later describing it as probably “one of the worst shots I’ve hit all week”. “I’m excited to accomplish one of my goals this early in the year, and I’m excited to keep playing well”. Dufner not only found a way to get the ball out, but his chip hit the pin to narrowly miss a birdie.

“I thought I would have a good go at that green in two and maybe get another birdie or possibly even an eagle and walked away with a 5, but no damage done, ” Dufner said.

Dufner was in trouble again on the first playoff hole after he drove into a bunker, but he put his second-shot wedge to 10 feet and made the nervy putt.

“I had adrenaline going, that’s for sure”, DeChambeau said.

Making his first start of the 2015-16 PGA TOUR Season, 2002 and 2004 CareerBuilder Challenge victor Phil Mickelson posted scores of 68-65-66-68-267 (-21) this week, marking the first time he posted four consecutive rounds in the 60s in a single event since the 2014 PGA Championship, where he was second. “That’s kind of when I started playing some good golf”. “Neither me or anybody I’ve ever played with has ever hit a ball in the water at 17”. Rory McIlroy (68) and Henrik Stenson (67).