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Mexico - Johnson Wagner captured his second career USPGA Tour title by parring the first playoff hole at the Mayakoba Golf Classic on Sunday to defeat fellow American Spencer Levin.
Wagner shot a final round four-under 67 to finish level with Levin at 17-under 267 on the El Camaleon course. Levin shot a six-under 65 on Sunday.
"I haven't really had time to think about it, but I'm just beside myself excited," Wagner said.
"I've been working really hard, and it's just nice to see stuff pay off when you work hard. It makes you want to work even harder."
American John Cook fired a five-under 66 to finish third on 270. Chris Stroud was alone in fourth at 13-under 271 after a closing 70.
Wagner, whose last win was in 2008 at the Houston Open, returned to the 18th tee with Levin to start the playoff.
South Africa's Rory Sabbatini (66) and Aussie Jarrod Lyle (70) were part of a half dozen players who finished at 12-under 272.
Wagner collected $666,000 prize money on a weekend when most of the top-ranked players were competing in the World Golf Championships Match Play Championship in Arizona.
His bogey-free round featured four birdies on seven, eight, 11 and 13.
"Spence and I have played a couple rounds together competitively, a few practice rounds," said Wagner, who took a one-shot lead over Stroud into the final round.
"Spencer is one of my favourite guys out here. He's played great this year. He's just a real emotional guy, real great player, gets a lot out of his game.
"Spence is one of the best guys out here, always wanting to chat and always seems to be in a pretty good mood. He's a good man."
Levin birdied five of the first eight holes before giving up a stroke at 12. He bounced back with birdies and 13 and 17.
"Obviously, right this second I'm not very happy, but yeah, overall it was a good week," Levin said. "I'm happy about it."
Levin, who remained in search of his first Tour title, was in trouble off the tee at the playoff hole.
"I hit a bad drive," he said. "That's pretty much it. It's tough when you go in the trap. I hit a bad drive and a bad third shot."
Wagner said his priority is making it into the Match Play next year but he wouldn't mind coming back to try and defend.
"Unfortunately, it's opposite the World Match Play, so the only way I would not be here is if I was in the top 64 in the world," Wagner said.
"But if I'm 65th, you can dang sure bet I'm going to be here. I've loved it here, and it would actually be sad if I did get to 64 in the world and didn't get to come back and defend. I've loved every minute I've been here."
Leading fourth-round scores here on Sunday from the $3.7 million Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun (USA unless noted; x wins in playoff):
267 - x-Johnson Wagner 69-66-65-67, Spencer Levin 68-67-67-65
270 - John Cook 70-68-66-66
271 - Chris Stroud 68-63-70-70
272 - Rory Sabbatini (RSA) 69-69-68-66, David Toms 66-70-69-67, Brian Gay 69-68-67-68, Briny Baird 67-70-66-69, Jarrod Lyle (AUS) 69-66-67-70, Bobby Gates 70-68-64-70
273 - Kent Jones 67-68-69-69
274 - Cameron Beckman 67-70-66-71
275 - Brett Wetterich 69-68-69-69, Tom Lehman 70-70-66-69, Kyle Stanley 66-71-69-69, Billy Horschel 70-65-70-70, Charles Howell 68-69-67-71, Jeff Quinney 71-67-65-72
...
276 - Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) 68-67-70-71, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 74-65-70-67, Cameron Percy (AUS) 68-66-70-72, Sunghoon Kang (KOR) 67-67-69-73
277 - Jose Manuel Lara (ESP) 72-70-64-71
278 - Mark Hensby (AUS) 66-70-70-72, Alejandro Canizares (ESP) 74-67-66-71, David Hearn (CAN) 69-70-69-70, Nick O'Hern (AUS) 70-69-70-69, Richard S. Johnson (SWE) 68-71-74-65
