Donald wins playoff, regains No. 1 ranking
PALM HARBOR, Fla. -- Luke Donald rallied from a three-shot deficit Sunday at the PGA Tour's Transitions with a 5-under 66, then won a four-man playoff on the first extra hole with a shot out of the rough to 6 feet and a birdie putt that curled in the left side of the cup.
Donald, who took back the No. 1 ranking, gave a big uppercut with his right fist to celebrate the end of a wild day -- and a devastating finish for Ernie Els.
Els was among eight players tied for the lead at some point in the final round, and he had a one-shot lead going into the closing stretch known as the "Snake Pit" at the Copperhead course.
The Big Easy missed a 4-foot birdie putt on the 16th, then badly missed a 4-foot par putt on the 18th hole that caused him to miss the playoff by one shot. He likely has to win in the next two weeks to avoid missing the Masters for the first time since 1993.
Donald ended Rory McIlroy's two-week stay atop the world ranking.
Donald had to beat Jim Furyk (69), Robert Garrigus (64) and Bae Sang-Moon (68) in sudden death. They all finished at 13-under 271.
Bonanza High product Scott Piercy shot a scorching 62 and joined Els (67), Ken Duke (68) and Jeff Overton (66) in a tie for fifth.
■ LPGA -- At Phoenix, Yani Tseng two-putted for par from 40 feet in fading light to hold off Ai Miyazato and Na Yeon Choi by a stroke in the LPGA Founders Cup.
The top-ranked Taiwanese star won her 14th LPGA Tour title and second in four events this year. She closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 18-under 270.
■ CHAMPIONS -- At Newport Beach, Calif., Loren Roberts shot 69 for an 8-under 205 total and a two-shot victory over Mark Calcavecchia, Tom Kite and Bernhard Langer in the Champions Tour's Toshiba Classic.
■ EUROPEAN PGA -- At Marbella, Spain, Julien Quesne tied the course record with an 8-under 64, posting a 17-under 271 total to win the Andalucian Open for his first European PGA Tour victory.
Matteo Manassero (68), the 18-year-old Italian, was second at 273.
