Dufner outduels Lingmerth to win at La Quinta
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Jason Dufner won the CareerBuilder Challenge with a par on the second hole of a playoff Sunday, taking advantage of David Lingmerth’s shot off the rocks that bounced into the water.
Dufner finished with a 2-under-par 70 on PGA West’s TPC Stadium Course to match Lingmerth at 25-under 263. Lingmerth shot 65.
Dufner escaped with a par on the island-green 17th after his tee shot bounced into a small sandy area between some of the tangled rocks that circle the green on the hole called Alcatraz.
“I was like, ‘Man, this is a great break, I’m going to take advantage of it,’ ” Dufner said. “‘This is what I need. I need this right now. I need this break to happen. I’m confident with what I can do with this shot and I need to make this happen and get a par.’ ”
He hooked a chip that struck the stick and stopped inches away.
On the first extra hole on the par-4 18th with a rock wall and water running the length of the left side, Dufner hit his 3-wood drive near the front lip in a right-side bunker. He blasted out 100 yards to set up a 110yard third shot that he hit to within 11 feet. He sank the putt to stay alive.
Lingmerth missed his 23-foot birdie try, giving Dufner a chance to extend the playoff.
Phil Mickelson shot a 68 to tie for third at 21 under in his first start since the Presidents Cup in October. In other golf news: • Rickie Fowler won the Abu Dhabi Championship for his fourth worldwide victory in nine months, shooting a 3-under 69 in his final round to win by one stroke over playing partner Thomas Pieters. Rory McIlroy (68) and Henrik Stenson (67) tied for third. Jordan Spieth tied for fifth — five shots behind Fowler — after a 68 and acknowledged after his final round that he was “beat up, mentally and physically,” having played in South Korea, China, Australia, Bahamas, Hawaii and now Abu Dhabi since October.