Thomas wins Honda Classic in playoff

MIAMI — American Justin Thomas rolled in a birdie on the first hole of a playoff to out-duel third round leader Luke List and win the PGA Tour's Honda Classic on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Thomas posted his eighth win on the USPGATour and his seventh victory in his last 31 tournaments.

"It was another level of difficulty, not only the amount of people I was trying to beat, but this golf course," said Thomas.

"I am so proud of myself and how I played. When you get out of position you have to try to salvage par and that's what I did.

"I just stayed patient. I know what to expect, how tough it can be, and it feels good to come out on top."

Thomas closed with a two-under 68 to catch 54-hole leader List, who had a oneunder 69. They both finished withaneight-under272totalat thePGANationalcourse.

Sweden's Alex Noren shot a three-under 67 to finish alone in third, just one stroke back of the leaders. England's Tommy Fleetwood placed fourth after shooting a 69 to reach six-under 274 total, two shotsadriftofThomasandList.

Tiger Woods fired an even-par 70 in the fourth roundforaneven-par280total to land in 12th place.

Thomas hit a beautiful approach shot on the only hole of the playoff as his ball sailed over a bunker and landedonthegreengivinghim a long downhill putt for birdie.

His first putt stopped four feet (1.2 meters) short but he made no mistake on the second putt for the victorythatwillmovehiminto number three in the world rankings.

American List got into trouble off the tee as his drive on 18 went right and landed in the middle of a small cluster of trees. His next shot sailed way left over the gallery and into the grandstand fence. He two-putted for a par.

"It is going to sting a little bit," said List. "In a playoff, you can't give Justin a par because he is going to hit birdies."

Thomas' final round was not without controversy. He tried to have a spectator removed on the 16th tee for heckling him and then had to apologize after the tournament for using a four-letter word on the green at 18 when he made the winning putt live on television.