Golf: Cambo fades in final round

KAPALUA - Michael Campbell had a closing nine to forget as Stuart Appleby edged out Vijay Singh in a play-off to clinch a record-equalling third successive Mercedes Championships title in Hawaii yesterday.

Australian Appleby, 34, birdied the first extra hole after the pair had finished regulation play at eight-under 284, Appleby closing with 71 and world No 2 Singh charging up the leaderboard with 66.

Campbell, alone in second two shots adrift of Appleby after the third round, drifted from contention with a closing 75, including a double bogey six on the 12th.

Campbell finished in a share of fourth place six shots outside the play-off after an errant journey home.

He had shared the lead with Appleby and Fijian Singh stepping on to the 12th tee but a wayward drive led to a lost ball and his second drive found a fairway bunker.

Campbell then posted three successive bogeys from the 15th before a birdie at the last left him on 290 alongside American Vaughn Taylor.

Appleby became the second player to win the PGA Tour's season-opening tournament three years in succession.

The play-off did not last long after he hit a greenside bunker shot to within a metre of the cup for his second birdie of the day at the par-five 18th.

Singh, who had trailed Appleby by five strokes overnight, had a chance to take the play-off into a second extra hole but missed his birdie attempt from 2.7m.

"I played well all week but made a few mistakes over the first three days," Singh said. "Today, I was more aggressive and took the golf course on. I needed to make a little run and I hit it like I can."

Appleby, who clinched the seventh PGA Tour victory of his career, became the 15th player to win a tour title at least three times in succession after a fourth successive day of gusting winds at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course.

American Gene Littler won the event at Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas from 1955 to 1957 when it was known as the Tournament of Champions.

Jim Furyk, the 2001 winner, returned a fourth successive 72 to finish third at four-under, with US Open champion Campbell two back alongside Taylor, who closed with 71.

Appleby, who won at Kapalua in much calmer conditions by a shot in 2004 and by the same margin last year, began the day at six-under.

He moved to eight-under for the first time when he holed a 21m putt from just off the green at the 486m fifth.

However, he slipped back when he three-putted at the par-four seventh.

After reaching the turn in one-under 35, he experienced a rollercoaster back nine, bogeying 11 and 13 but picking up shots on 12, 15 and at the last.

Singh launched his run with an eagle at the par-five fifth, striking a superb second shot from 198m to within a metre of the flag.

He nearly drove the green at the 364m sixth, chipping to set up a comfortable birdie three.

The three-time major winner, boosted by some superb approach play, picked up further shots at eight, 12, 15 and 16 to forge two clear of Appleby before opening the door with a bogey at the par-four 17th. Both players birdied the last.

- REUTERS