Ernie Els won the Sony Open in dramatic fashion yesterday, sinking a 55-foot birdie putt to beat dogged Aaron Baddeley in a playoff.
Els and Baddeley, in his first event as a full PGA Tour member, staged a tight final-round duel before finishing tied at 16-under-par 264 as Baddeley sank a clutch 11-foot birdie putt on the final hole of regulation at Waialae Country Club.
Both players returned to the par-five 18th for the playoff and made birdie putts before the world No 2 won it at the second extra hole, the par-four 10th.
"When I got over the putt, for some reason I didn't feel nervous," said Els, who had a similar put during the final round and knew how it would break.
"I was just trying to stay alive and all of a sudden I make the putt and win. I can put 100 balls down there and not make another one.
"It's just a crazy game. So many times it's happened to me, guys have made bombs."
Baddeley was as surprised as Els.
"I don't think he was supposed to hole that putt," the 21-year-old Australian said. "I wasn't expecting it."
Els, who started the final round two strokes behind Baddeley, shot a three-under 67 while Baddeley carded a 69. They finished two strokes ahead of American Chris DiMarco.
Els, 33, who also won last week's season-opening Mercedes Championships - open only to tour winners -- collected $810,000 for his 12th PGA Tour victory.
He is the first player since Steve Jones in 1989 to win the first two events of the year.
The South African actually has won his last three starts, after dusting the field at the 12-man Nedbank Challenge in Sun City, South Africa, late last year. His three victories have earned him a combined $3.81 million.
"I don't think I can swing it much better than that," he said. "That's the best I've swung in the last two weeks. Obviously, these wins have helped my confidence, but it's a long season."
Els probably wouldn't have needed a playoff had his putt not struck Baddeley's marker, a thick English coin, at the 17th hole.
Baddeley subsequently missed a par putt from inside three feet, about the only short putt he missed all week, to fall one behind. However, he made amends with an 11-foot birdie at the last to force extra holes.
Baddeley had a chance to stay alive at the second playoff hole but left his 20-foot putt just short.
"At the moment I'm disappointed because I had a chance to win, but I'm happy because I made Ernie work for it," Baddeley said.
"He's a great putter," Els said. "Obviously, he's young and can still improve a lot in other aspects. These guys come out new and feel they can beat anybody."