Pro golf: Jason Dufner wins playoff in CareerBuilder Challenge

Dufner narrowly missed a 20-foot birdie putt at the last before carding a two-under 70 while Lingmerth carded a bogey-free 65 at PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course.

It was at the Stadium Course, that leader Dufner shot seven-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead over Jamie Lovemark.

Dufner parred the final four holes, escaping trouble on the par-5 16th after his drive strayed to the left.

During the regulation play, Lingmerth, who was five strokes behind World No. 120 Dufner till the third round, scored 65 to take his total to 25-under 263 – same as the American.

On a third straight day of flawless conditions, which produced a handful of outrageous scoring barrages, Dufner birdied seven times on his back nine for a 29 at La Quinta Country Club on Saturday and finished with an 8-under-par 64.

“It’s been a good three days”, Mickelson said. “I’m just trying to hit each shot as good as I can and not let results and outcome dictate how I feel or how I think out there….”

After hitting his tee shot into the rocks surrounding an island green, luckily evading water, he somehow managed to produce a superb chip shot which hit the flag and nearly went in.

Dufner and Lingmerth finished four shots ahead of Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na and Andrew Loupe at 21 under.

“I felt good with my game”, Mickelson said. He opted to putt, but came up short and then missed a short putt to record his first bogey of the tournament.

Idyllwild native and Hemet High graduate Brendan Steele, who flirted with getting into the top 10 following his runner-up finish a year ago, faded with a 2-over 74 and tied for 34th at 13 under.

For the final round on the host Stadium Course, Dufner is paired with Lovemark, and they both have the tournament low there this week with 65s.

“It was probably like one in 50 million that the ball ended up there”, Dufner said. I leaned the shaft a little bit with the face open and tried to hit one where you kind of get a lot of grip.

The result was disappointing for Lingmerth, but the 28-year-old Swede likely just secured his spot in the Olympics alongside Henrik Stenson.

After being 12-under for the first 36 holes, he was two-under for the next 36.

“I’m excited for this year”, Dufner said.

“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.

DeChambeau is the 2015 U.S. Amateur and NCAA champion who plays with a home-made set of irons that are all the same length, explaining his self-styled nickname “The Golf Scientist”.