Molder wins maiden title as Woods shows signs of progress

American Bryce Molder won the Frys.com Open after he defeated compatriot Briny Baird in the longest play-off on the PGA Tour this season.

Molder shot a closing 64 to tie overnight leader Baird on -17, but it looked like he’d thrown away a golden opportunity for a first win as he parred 14, 15, 16 and 17 before making a vital birdie at 18.

In contrast, Baird, who was also looking for a first PGA Tour win, went into attack mode on the closing stretch and birdied the par-5 14th after bravely reaching in two before chipping in for eagle at the driveable par-4 17th.

The duo returned to 17 and 18 for the play-off and it took six holes to separate them, Molder finally winning with a birdie on the par-4 closing hole.

“It’s a little surreal right now,” said the 32-year-old victor. “That’s a lot of golf today.”

The win lifts Molder to 45th in the PGA Tour money list and Baird can console himself with the fact that his runner-up cheque guarantees his place on tour next season.

Newly-turned pro Bud Cauley finished third with Ernie Els and Shane Bertsch tied for fourth. Paul Casey was in the final threeball but a disappointing 71 saw him slip into an eight-way tie for seventh.

Former world number one Tiger Woods survived having a hotdog thrown at him during his final round to shoot a third successive 68.

Woods had a stone-cold putter as he opened with a 73 but there were many positives to be taken from the week as he began to show some consistency and eventually finished T30.