Bill Haas clinched his fourth PGA Tour title by beating fellow Americans Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley in a gripping sudden-death playoff for the Northern Trust Open Sunday. The 29-year-old Haas sank a curling 43-foot birdie putt at the second extra hole, the driveable par-four 10th, to seal victory at Riviera Country Club. Mickelson, seeking a second consecutive PGA Tour win, missed his birdie chance from the back right bunker while Bradley's attempt, a 15-foot putt, slipped past the right edge of the cup. Bradley, winner of last year's PGA Championship, had set up his birdie opportunity by splashing out of the front right greenside bunker, a shot he described as his best all week. “I couldn't have hit a better shot,” Bradley told reporters. “I had about a 15 percent chance of keeping that on grass where I could putt it. It was one of the best shots I've ever hit. “But Bill Haas, you've got to give him a lot of credit. It's good to see a fellow belly putter make a putt like that. I'm happy for him.” The trio had finished the 72 regulation holes on seven-under-par 277, Haas closing with a two-under 69 while Mickelson and Bradley each birdied the par-four last for matching 71s, Mickelson holing a 26-footer and Bradley following suit with a 13-footer. Spaniard Sergio Garcia fired a best-of-the-week 64 that included two eagles to share fourth place at five-under with Americans Dustin Johnson (71) and Jimmy Walker (69), and Australian Jarrod Lyle (70). Donald meets Els in WGC first round World No. 1 Luke Donald was drawn Monday to play triple major winner Ernie Els in the first round of this week's WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Arizona. Briton Donald is the defending champion, having won last year's trophy in imperious style without reaching the 18th hole in any of his six matches. Spain's Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano will also meet Tiger Woods in Wednesday's opening round at Dove Mountain while world No. 2 Rory McIlroy launches his campaign against South African George Coetzee. Lee Westwood, ranked third, faces Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts and Sergio Garcia takes on fellow Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez. American Bill Haas kicks off with a match against young Japanese Ryo Ishikawa while Dustin Johnson meets US Ryder Cup teammate Jim Furyk.
