Day Takes Farmers Insurance Open in Playoff


After finishing tied in regulation with Harris English, J.B. Holmes and Scott Stallings, Jason Day parred the second sudden-death playoff hole to win the Farmers Insurance Open. The $6.3 million PGA Tour began Thursday at Torrey Pines near San Diego.

Day closed with a 70, while defending champion Stallings had a 69 and Holmes and English both 72s to finish four rounds at 9-under 279. Day got into the extra session thanks to clutch birdies at the 15th and 16th holes.

On the first playoff hole, the par-5 18th with the water-guarded green, only Day found the fairway. He went for the green with a 2-iron from 230 yards but the ball flared to the right. Because of their lies, the other three were forced to lay up with their second shots.

Stallings hit his third past the hole and it spun 6 feet below the cup. English, who put his lay-up shot into the left-hand rough, hit his third onto the back fringe of the green. Holmes then struck a wonderful wedge to 3 feet above the hole.

Playing last, Day made an outstanding pitch shot to a foot. Only Day and Holmes made their birdie putts, sending the now two-man playoff to the par-3 16th hole, which for the final round was 196 yards.

With a 6-iron Holmes overcooked his tee shot and it ended up next to a TV tower, where he got a free drop. Day then hit his drive right over the pin to about 15 above the cup. From deep rough, Holmes hit a flop shot to 10 feet. Day putted downhill to a foot past the cup before Holmes missed his par attempt that would have sent the proceedings to another hole.

After Day tapped in for par and the victory he was greeted by his wife Ellie for a big embrace. "It's an amazing feeling and I've worked so hard for this," he said during a brief greenside interview. "I envisioned holding the trophy all week. I'm just really thrilled."

Entering the week ranked eighth, the win - worth $1.134 million and 500 FedEx Cup points - will move the 27-year-old to fourth in the World Golf Rankings when they're released on Monday.

Finishing a stroke out the playoff and ending up in a tie for fifth at 8-under 280 were Charles Howell III (68) and Alex Prugh (71). One shot further back were Scotland's Martin Laird (69), Ireland's Shane Lowry (68) and Americans Nick Watney and Jimmy Walker, who each shot 73s.

Tied for 11th at 282 were Zac Blair (69), Michael Thompson (70), J.J. Henry (70), Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas (73), Spencer Levin (74) and Mexico's Carlos Ortiz (71).

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/farmers-insurance-open/leaderboard.html.