Dufner seals win in New Orleans

Reuters/Avondale, Louisiana

Jason Dufner celebrates with the winner’s trophy after defeating Ernie Els in a two hole playoff to win the final round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at TPC Louisiana on Sunday in Avondale, Louisiana

American Jason Dufner clinched his first PGA Tour title with a nail-biting playoff victory over veteran South African Ernie Els at the New Orleans Classic in Avondale, Louisiana, on Sunday. The laid-back journeyman, previously a runner-up three times on the US circuit, sealed the long-awaited win in bright sunshine with a two-putt birdie on the second extra hole at the TPC Louisiana, the par-five 18th. Els, seeking his first PGA Tour victory since the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational, missed his long-range birdie attempt there from just off the left edge of the green. “It was a tough day,” Dufner, 35, said in a greenside interview after finally triumphing on his 164th PGA Tour start. “Ernie put up a good number today and we were battling it. “It was just tough trying to get this first win. It’s been tough for about six years out here now, so a little bit of a monkey off my back. I’m excited.”