Lucas Glover beat close friend Jonathan Byrd in a play-off to win the prestigious Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.
Former US Open champ holds nerve in North Carolina
Lucas Glover beat close friend and former Clemson team-mate Jonathan Byrd in a play-off to win the prestigious Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.
Without a win since his 2009 US Open triumph at Bethpage Black, Glover's par at the first extra hole was enough to give him the title.
Glover shot 69 on Sunday to draw level with third-round leader Byrd, who could only manage a level-par 72.
That left them on 15-under for the tournament, a shot ahead of South African Rory Sabbatini, whose best-of-the-day 65 just failed to get him into the play-off.
Bill Haas, who almost scored a hole-in-one at 17 before bogeying the last, finished two shots back in fourth while Kevin Na was a further stroke behind in fifth.
Hardest
On a dramatic final day, Glover made his move with birdies at seven and eight and an eagle at 10.
Another birdie at 15 meant he led by one as he arrived at the 'Green Mile' - the 480-yard 16th, the 217-yard 17th and the 478-yard 18th ranked respectively as the sixth, second and first hardest holes on the golf course.
But he got up and down from just off the green for his four at 16, two-putted from 75 feet for his three at the 17th and, after a wild drive at 18, saved par again after a deft chip and seven foot putt.
Byrd, who had played his first 15 holes in one over, looked to be in huge trouble when he found the trees at 16. But, after chipping out, he hit a great third to save par to stay one back at 14 under and remained there with a good three at 17.
It meant he need a rare birdie at the 18th to tie but, showing tremendous guts, he got it by holing a 14 foot putt after a great drive and approach.
The two men returned to 18 but this time Byrd flew his drive into a bunker and after tugging his second shot left he failed to get up and down.
That opened the door for Glover who found the green in regulation and then made a solid two-putt to give him victory and deny Byrd a third PGA Tour win in the last eight months.
Padraig Harrington finished as the top European in tied ninth but his day ended on a rather sour note.
First, he bogeyed the final two holes just as it looked as if he could threaten the leaders and he then had to return to the 13th to prove to officials he hadn't illegally teed off in front of the tee markers after a viewer had phoned in. He eventually escaped punishment.
Playing partner Phil Mickelson also finished tied ninth after a patchy finish.
The left-hander had climbed up to 11-under after 10 holes but three bogeys to two birdies after that meant he ended at 10-under.
Sergio Garcia, who had shot a third round 74 on the day that his childhood idol Seve Ballesteros had passed away, closed with a two-under 70 to finish tied 28th.
