Jhonattan Vegas came through a chaotic three-man playoff at the Bob Hope Classic to take his maiden PGA Tour victory.
Venezuelan takes victory on just fifth PGA Tour start
Jhonattan Vegas came through a chaotic three-man playoff at the Bob Hope Classic to take his maiden PGA Tour victory.
The 26-year-old, making only his fifth career start, became the first player from Venezuela to win on tour after edging out defending champion Bill Haas and fellow rookie Gary Woodland in California.
The trio had finished locked together on 27-under par after Haas carded a final round of 66 to draw level with the overnight joint-leaders, who both shot rounds of 69.
Vegas could have taken the title before the play-off, but three-putted the 18th hole for bogey when par would have been enough for the win.
The trio returned to the 18th for the first play-off hole and Haas, who also three-putted the green on his round, was eliminated after again only managing a par while his opponents picked up birdies.
Chip
Vegas had again come close to winning when he almost found the hole with an eagle chip from right of the green, but his chances looked to have disappeared on the second extra hole.
At the par-four 10th, he found the water with his tee shot but Woodland then dumped his second shot into a bunker to let Vegas off the hook.
Vegas made a brilliant recovery to 15ft after his penalty drop and then watched as Woodland sent his bunker shot across the green and then hit his par putt well past the hole.
That left Vegas with a putt for victory and this time he made no mistake.
"This is a dream come true, just making it happen is something else," the rookie said after the play-off.
Scotland's Martin Laird started the final round two shots back but faded to a share of 22nd after a closing 74, while Englishman Brian Davis finished a shot ahead of him after a final round of 67.
