Els beats Baddeley on second playoff hole in Sony Open

Associated Press

In a thrilling battle that ended with an unlikely birdie, Ernie Els outlasted 21-year-old Aaron Baddeley in a playoff today to win the Sony Open in Hawai'i and become the first player in 14 years to win the first two PGA Tour events of the season.

Unlike last week at Kapalua, the Big Easy had to work hard for this one.

He appeared to be a beaten man when he missed the 353-yard 10th green to the left and chipped through the green, some 55 feet from the hole.

Instead, Els rammed home the putt — just like Tiger Woods did to him three years ago at Kapalua — and won on the second playoff hole when the young Aussie's 20-foot birdie putt hung on the lip.

Els closed with a 3-under 67, while Baddeley had a 69 as both finished at 16-under 264.

"I thought the kid was going to go away, but he kept at me," Els said. "Unlucky for Aaron, but he's going to win a lot of titles."

He gave himself every chance at winning the Sony Open.

With steely nerves and a game that belies his 21 years, Baddeley holed a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff, made another birdie from 6 feet to continue and was in much better shape than Els on No. 10, the second playoff hole.

It was a stunning conclusion, and a great sendoff for Els.

He earned $900,000, pushing him to $1.9 million on the money list. Els might still be there when he returns to the PGA Tour for the Match Play Championship at the end of February.

Steve Jones in 1989 was the last player to win the opening two events on tour.