TPC Louisiana: Jason Dufner beats Ernie Els

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TPC Louisiana: Jason Dufner beats Ernie Els

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After entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana.

30 April,2012 12:36 pm

Jason Dufner beat Ernie Els with a birdie on the second hole of a playoff Sunday in the Zurich Classic, to win for the first time in 164 starts on the PGA Tour.After entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana. Els had a 67 to match Dufner at 19-under 269.After both players missed birdie putts within 8 feet on the par-5 18th, they went back to the 18th tee for the second extra hole, which Dufner won by hitting the green in two strokes and tapping home a short birdie putt after Els birdie attempt from the fringe narrowly missed.Dufner lost playoffs last year to Mark Wilson in the Phoenix Open and Keegan Bradley in the PGA Championship for two of his three career runner-up finishes. The 6-foot-3-inch Els, who goes by the nickname The Big Easy, hasnt won on the PGA Tour since the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, a little more than two years ago.Luke Donald shot a 67 to finish third at 17 under and move past Rory McIlroy for the No. 1 ranking in the world.Defending Zurich Classic champ Bubba Watson, playing for the first time since a life-changing win at the Masters over Easter weekend, entered the final round eight shots off the lead. He was unable to mount a charge after bogeys on his first two holes. He wound up tied for 18th at 11 under, a solid outing by most standards, but one of his worst finishes of the year.