Cool Jonathan Byrd flies high in Hawaii play-off duel

Jonathan Byrd became the first champion of 2011 on the PGA Tour, defeating the gutsy Robert Garrigus on the second hole of a tense play-off at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

The pair finished top of the leaderboard on 24 under for the tournament, where they were almost joined by Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell, who equalled the course record with a stunning round of 62.

Byrd and Garrigus both shot six-under 67s, the latter booking his place in the play-off with a birdie at the 18th. The sudden-death format came into play as both men repeated the final hole after a short break.

Garrigus made slightly harder work of the par-five than his rival, slightly mis-reading his approach to the green and leaving himself a tricky two putt. Byrd's hole was more straightforward but he could not pick up a birdie for the win and the pair moved on to the first tee. This time Garrigus missed an awkward putt and conceded the hole and the title. "It's a great feeling," said Byrd.