James Hahn claims play-off victory at the Wells Fargo Championship

James Hahn ended a run of eight consecutive missed cuts on the PGA Tour by claiming play-off victory over Roberto Castro at the Wells Fargo Championship.

The world No 134 had to settle for a play-off after three-putting the last on his way to a two-under 70, but prevailed with a par at the first extra hole as Castro's tee-shot found a watery grave.

Making his first weekend appearance since February's Phoenix Open, Hahn made an early move on Sunday and briefly topped the leaderboard after draining a 50-foot eagle at the seventh and picking up another stroke at the next during a front-nine 33.

Overnight leader Rickie Fowler saw his advantage disappear when he followed blemishes on two of his opening four holes by finding the water and running up a double-bogey at the seventh, as Castro reached the turn holding a one-shot advantage.

A three-way shoot-out developed between Castro, Hahn and Justin Rose along the back nine, with the trio tied for the lead with six holes to play when they all dropped a stroke at the par-four 12th.

Castro moved back out ahead with a close-range gain at the 14th, but had Hahn piling on the pressure by matching his birdie-four at the next.

Rose's victory hopes faded when he misjudged an eight-footer for birdie at 15 and three-putted the next from 20 feet, as Castro handed the advantage back to Hahn with success blemishes over the first two holes of Quail Hollow's 'Green Mile'.

With Hahn needing a par at the last to seal victory inside 72 holes, the American found the par-four green in two but took three blows from 30 feet, as Castro holed from six feet to close a final-round 71.

"Eight straight missed cuts is tough," Hahn said. "You start to question yourself - are you good enough, will it every happen again?

"It's crazy to call myself a two-time PGA Tour champion. To do this on the first play-off hole is amazing."

World No 3 Rory McIlroy finished a birdie-filled 66 to join Phil Mickelson, Fowler and Loupe two strokes off the pace, while Lucas Glover ended on his own on six under after finding the water at the last. 

"Any time you walk off the golf course and shoot 66, you can't be too disappointed," McIlroy said. "But I think in the circumstances having a feeling like I had a chance on the back nine to post a number for the guys to at least think about it and I didn't."

PGA Tour Golf