Dufner salvages win with scramble from the rocks

Defending champion Bill Haas who began Saturday’s play among five golfers tied for third, three shots behind Dufner, fell into a three-way tie for 10th, eight shots off the lead, after a three-under-par 69 at the TPC Stadium Course. Lingmerth missed a 25-foot birdie try for the title then, having fired his third into within 10 feet, Dufner rolled his par putt home to extend the playoff.

Jason Dufner was leading through 54 holes at La Quinta, but a slow front nine of one-over-par on Sunday let the chasing pack back into the competition.

He claimed his fourth PGA Tour title with a par on the second extra hole after Sweden’s David Lingmerth sent his second shot into the water.

Dufner got off to a blazing start on the West Stadium Course, back in the tournament rotation for the first time since 1987, with six birdies in the first nine holes.

“I have been playing good”, Dufner said. Lingmerth shot a bogey-free 65, matching the best score of the day.

His birdie on the 16th was crucial to forcing a play-off, while he produced the shot of the round on the 17th after driving the ball off the tee into the rock outline and narrowly missing the water with his first shot.

That potential monster of a hole played at its full 165-yard length Sunday, and without incident for the most part until Dufner arrived, tied at 25 under with Lingmerth, who had just parred 17. “I believe I should continue to get better as the days, weeks, months go on”.

“I didn’t choke up enough on the club”, said the 28-year-old. He made a miraculous shot that trickled to the hole, bouncing off the pin and just missing birdie.

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 thought it was in the water, so I got a break”, Dufner said.

Canadian Adam Hadwin had a 64 on the Nicklaus Course to get to 20 under.

“I never feel like I have to do anything because I’m playing good”.

Dufner is seeking his first victory since the 2013 PGA Championship. He managed to get up and down, after his chip shot hit the flag. On the PGA West 17th, Dufner explained, the tee is elevated, the shot longer (165 yards) and the wind trickier.

“I’m probably a week away, if I’m being honest, ” Mickelson said Friday. Next week, Lefty will tee it up at the Northern Trust Open from Torrey Pines in his home town of San Diego. Kim also finished in solo fourth last week at the Sony Open.