Emotional Brian Stuard clinches first PGA tour title

Journeyman Brian Stuard clinched his first PGA Tour title with a gripping playoff victory over fellow American Jamie Lovemark and South Korean An Byeong-hun at the weather-plagued Zurich Classic of New Orleans yesterday.

The 33-year-old Stuard sealed the win on the second extra hole at the TPC Louisiana, the par-five 18th, after laying up in two, hitting a superb third shot to three feet and knocking in the birdie putt.

“This means a lot,” an emotional Stuard told Golf Channel after earning a winner’s cheque for $1.26m, a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and a spot at next year’s Masters.