Three Canadians finish in the top-10 for the first time ever at a PGA Tour event

AP

SAN MARTIN, Calif. - Bryce Molder had to wait 132 tournaments before winning for the first time on the PGA Tour. He didn't mind going an extra six holes Sunday in the Frys.com Open in the longest playoff of the year.

Moulder made a 6-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole - the fourth time he had to play the closing hole at Cordevalle in 90 minutes - to outlast Briny Baird in a playoff that both players had chances to win.

It was the 17th playoff this year on the PGA Tour, setting a record dating to the modern era that began in 1970.

"It's a little surreal right now," Molder said. "That's a lot of golf today."

Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, B.C., David Hearn of Brantford, Ont., and Matt McQuillan of Kingston tied for seventh place - the first time in recent memory that three Canadians have finished in the top-10 at a PGA event. Their score of 11-under 271 left them six shots behind Molder.

For Hadwin, a Canadian Tour regular playing at CordeValle Golf Club on a sponsor's invitation, it was his second top-10 result of the year on the PGA Tour in just four starts. He not only earned $130,312 (all currency U.S.) but also a berth in the field at the McGladrey Classic in Sea Island, Ga., this week.

He's now won more than $432,000 on the year. If he can win enough to get him into the top 125 of the PGA money list, he will assure himself a playing card for 2012 without having to go through Q-School.

For Hearn, it was his second top 10 in as many weeks. He moved to a projected No. 102 on the PGA Tour money list and, with just two official events left on the 2011 calendar, is assured of keeping his card for 2012.

He started play Sunday tied for 26th but shot into the top 10 with two eagles and two birdies over the final five holes at CordeValle. He shot 65.

For McQuillan, who made six birdies in his final 10 holes Sunday, it was his third top 10 of the season. The rookie climbed to a projected No. 132 on the money list.

Baird looked like a winner when he chipped in from short of the 17th green for eagle in regulation to take a one-shot lead. In the group ahead of him, Molder rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to close with a 7-under 64, which got him into the playoff.

Baird, who now is 0-for-348 in his 12 years trying to win on tour, shot a 4-under 67. He twice had birdie putts on the 18th in the playoff to win, missing from eight feet and 12 feet. Molder had three chances to win with eagle putts on the 284-yard 17th, missing from 20 feet, 15 feet and 12 feet, all from about the same line.

They finished at 17-under 267, and then looked as though they would never finish.

Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who turned pro this summer, shot 66 and finished third to earn US$340,000, which looks as if it will be enough for him to earn a card next year without having to go through the qualifying tournament.

Cauley left Alabama this year to turn pro, and it appeared to be a smart decision. He is projected to be the equivalent of 114th on the money list with two tournaments remaining. He at least gets into the McGladrey Classic next week. Cauley would be only the seventh player since 1980 - and the first since Ryan Moore in 2005 - to earn a full PGA Tour card without ever going to Q-school.

Cauley was among five players tied for the lead at some point in the final round. As usual at CordeValle, this tournament was always going to be decided over the final four holes, which offer two eagle possibilities with the par 5 at No. 15 and the tees moved forward on the 17th, making it play 284 yards over the water.

It was the second straight week that a player won for the first time after a long drought. Kevin Na won in Las Vegas after 210 tries. Molder was regarded as a sure thing when he left Georgia Tech as a four-time All-American, but nothing comes easily on the PGA Tour. And as he found out in fading sunlight, noting comes easily in a playoff.

On the fourth extra hole, Molder drove into a hazard on the 18th. He hammered out a shot to the front of the green, and hit a beautiful lag from 80 feet to escape with par.

"It wasn't an easy shot. It certainly wasn't heroic," Molder said. "I knew if I could get a decent club on it, it would go somewhere where I was looking."

Tiger Woods managed to make news when a fan ran toward the seventh green as he was putting and tossed a hot dog in his direction. The 31-year-old man was arrested and never came close to Woods.

"I guess he wanted to be in the news," Woods said. "And I'm sure he will be."

Woods had three rounds in the 60s for the first time in more than a year on the PGA Tour, although he finished 10 shots behind in a tie for 30th. It a year lost mainly to left leg injuries, it was his ninth and final tour start.

Shane Bertsch surged into the lead alone with an eagle at No. 15 to reach 15 under, only to miss a short putt on the next hole. He failed to make another birdie and tied for fourth with a 64. Ernie Els also tied for fourth. He went bunker-to-bunker on the 15th and had to settle for par and closed with a 68.

Ultimately, the duel came down to Baird and Molder, two players looking for their first PGA Tour win on a course that tests the nerves because of so many possible swings in momentum.

Moulder - birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine to take over the lead, and appeared to be playing safe by laying up on the 15th and making par. His 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th spun 270 degrees around the cup.

In the group behind him, Baird reached the 15th green for a two-putt birdie to get within one stroke, then put himself in position for the win with a drive that narrowly cleared the water on the 17th and stayed on the bank.

Trying to get up-and-down to tie for the lead, he chipped in for an eagle - the second straight day he made eagle on that hole - for a one-shot lead. Up ahead, however, Molder recovered by rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole to catch him.