Els falls short in New Orleans

New Orleans - American Jason Dufner clinched his first PGA Tour title with a nail-biting playoff victory over veteran South African Ernie Els at the Zurich Classic in Avondale, Louisiana, on Sunday.

The laid-back journeyman, a runner-up three times on the US circuit, sealed the win with a two-putt birdie on the second extra hole at the TPC Louisiana, the par-five 18th.

Both players had good birdie chances at the first extra hole, also the 18th, but Dufner missed his attempt there from seven feet and Els from six feet.

The duo had finished the regulation 72 holes on 19-under-par 269, Els eagling the seventh on his way to a five-under 67 and Dufner narrowly missing a 10-foot birdie putt at the last to close with a 70.

Leading scores on Sunday after the final round of the PGA Tour $6.4 million Zurich Classic of New Orleans (USA unless noted, par-72, x-Dufner wins playoff with birdie on second extra hole):

269 - x-Jason Dufner 67-65-67-70, Ernie Els (RSA) 66-68-68-67

271 - Luke Donald (GBR) 73-65-66-67

272 - Ryan Palmer 72-67-64-69, Graham DeLaet (CAN) 68-67-66-71

273 - Steve Stricker 66-68-69-70

274 - Ken Duke 65-68-71-70, Cameron Tringale 65-70-68-71, John Rollins 67-66-69-72

275 - David Mathis 72-69-69-65, Justin Rose (GBR) 72-67-68-68, Rickie Fowler 71-65-69-70

276 - Jonas Blixt (SWE) 68-70-71-67, Scott Piercy 72-66-69-69, Webb Simpson 68-72-67-69, J.B. Holmes 71-67-68-70, Ben Curtis 67-70-68-71

277 - Jeff Overton 72-67-73-65, Brendon de Jonge (ZIM) 73-69-69-66, Camilo Villegas (COL) 69-66-74-68, Jimmy Walker 70-71-68-68, Bubba Watson 71-71-65-70, Alex Cejka (GER) 70-69-67-71

278 - Colt Knost 70-70-72-66, Patrick Read 71-70-70-67, Bobby Gates 71-65-74-68, Chris Stroud 66-71-72-69, David Hearn (CAN) 68-73-68-69, George McNeill 70-70-67-71