Wilson birdied the third playoff hole today to beat Jose Coceres and win the Honda Classic, his first 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 caddy Chris P. Jones, and rejoiced in knowing that both an exemption through the 2009 season and a $990,000 winner's check were coming his way.

Not bad for a guy who's ended his year at the tour's qualifying school in each of the last 10 years.

''Believe me, I studied the numbers last night,'' said Wilson, who was a math major at North Carolina. ''I looked at it and said, if I can win tomorrow, I might get into Doral and have a good chance with another good week of getting into the Masters for the first time. The numbers kind of get in your way sometimes, because then you put too much pressure on yourself, but in this case I think they helped me.''

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 today by the foursome -- all of whom finished regulation play on the PGA National course at 5-under 275.

Weekley missed a 3-foot par putt on the 72nd hole yesterday, one that would have won him the tournament. On the 10th hole today, his drive was deep in the left rough, leaving him no chance of reaching the long par-4, and he made bogey.

''It's a learning experience. I'm disappointed in myself after yesterday, but that's golf, man,'' Weekley said. ''That just happens. ... Just golf. Just a part of it.''

All four made par on the par-5 18th last night when the playoff began, but darkness forced the playoff to today.

Wilson got into the playoff largely because of a 45-foot par save at the par-4 16th late yesterday afternoon. He made another clutch 8-footer for par on the final regulation hole, then rolled in a 30-footer for par on the first playoff hole, yet that was just part of his dramatic week.

On Friday, he called a two-shot penalty on himself because his caddy inadvertently gave Villegas and his caddy club information on the par-3 fifth hole.

Without that penalty, Wilson might have won the event yesterday -- but didn't mind waiting until today.