Jason Day of Australia made par on the second playoff hole to beat J.B. Holmes and win the Farmers Insurance Open on the South Course at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla.
Day, who claimed his third victory on the PGA Tour, closed with a 2-under-par 70, saving par on the final hole of regulation from the edge of Devlin’s Billabong, the lake that guards the 18th green.
That got him into the playoff with Holmes, defending champion Scott Stallings and Harris English, with the last two dropping out with pars on the first extra hole, where Day and Holmes made birdies.
“It feels amazing,” said Day, who moved to No. 4 in the World Golf Rankings. “I’ve worked so hard, and this week I just kept visualizing myself holding the trophy, and I was able to grind it out. San Diego is a great place to win.
“My ultimate goal is to eventually be No. 1, but I have some great players ahead of me. This is a great start to the year and I just hope to stay healthy.”
Holmes hit his second shot over the green on the second playoff hole and missed his 20-foot putt for par, allowing Day, who was hampered by thumb and back injuries, to win with a two-putt from 15 feet.
Stallings, who like Holmes has three victories on the PGA Tour, closed with a 69, while English, who has won twice, and Holmes both shot 72 after sharing the 54-hole lead.
Charles Howell III, who has not won since claiming his second victory on the circuit in the 2007 Nissan Open at Riviera, closed with a 68 and finished one stroke out of the playoff in a tie for fifth with Alex Pugh, who had a 71.
Nick Watney of Sacramento and Fresno State, shot 73 and tied for seventh with Jimmy Walker, who also posted a 73, Shane Lowry of Ireland, who had a 68, and Martin Laird of Scotland, who carded a 69.
