IT TOOK six extra holes but America’s Bryce Molder finally broke through for his maiden US PGA Tour victory in his 132nd start at the 2011 Frys.com Open in California today.

His hapless playoff opponent was fellow countryman Briny Baird, who has now had 348 starts without a win.

Though I am not sure ‘hapless’ is the right expression, as Baird is the PGA player who has won the most money – around twelve million bucks – without ever having a win.

Both golfers had a number of opportunities to close the deal, both in regulation and as they repeated 17 and 18 again and again.

They both kept driving the par-4 17th (just around 284 yards) and then missing their eagle putts or chips. Both players birdied it three times in a row.

Molder finally sunk the winning six foot birdie putt the third time the playoff returned to the 18th. The sun was sinking rapidly behind the hills and the approaching darkness would probably otherwise have meant an overnight delay.

Molder had rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th in regulation to close with a seven-under 64 and force the playoff with Baird who shot a 67.

They finished on 17-under with the impressive 21-year-old American rookie Bud Cauley third at 15-under.

The best of the Australians were Rod Pampling (68), Cameron Percy (69) and Nathan Green (71) who tied for 24th on 8-under.

Tiger Woods, in his first tournament for seven weeks and the last before he heads off to Australia, improved from his disappointing opening 73 to finish with three rounds of 68. He tied for 30th on 7-under.

A local fan caused some consternation when he decided Woods needed feeding, or some other similarly enlightened notion, when he threw a hotdog at the former world No.1 as he putted on the 7th green.

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