Wilson wins Honda Classic

Florida, March 6:

Mark Wilson birdied the third playoff hole to beat Jose Coceres and win the Honda Classic on Monday, his first US PGA Tour victory in 111 starts.

Wilson rolled in a 10-footer on the par-3 17th, then retreated to the side of the green to see if Coceres — who had a putt of nearly the same distance, and nearly on the same line — could match the birdie. But the putt hit the lip and rolled away, and Wilson could finally exhale. He thrust both fists into the air, hugged caddie Chris Jones, and rejoiced in knowing he’d earned an exemption through the 2009 season and a $990,000 winner’s check.

Boo Weekley and Camilo Villegas were eliminated from the playoff with bogeys on the second hole, the par-4 10th, which was the first one played on Monday by the foursome — all of whom finished regulation play on the PGA National course at 5-under 275.