Hole-in-one ends Martin Laird's dream of keeping title

Byrd triumphed at the fourth extra hole in a three-man play-off which also involved Cameron Percy. Just moments before his ace, the trio had discussed whether there was enough light to continue. They agreed to play one more hole, the 204-yard 17th at the TPC Summerlin. And the play-off essentially ended with one swing.

It was too dark for Byrd to see his ball land about ten feet short of the flag and roll into the cup, and even the cheers from a smattering of fans around the green weren't convincing. "Did that go in?" Byrd asked his caddie.

Almost as stunning was that Byrd remained in the play-off. On the third extra hole, the par-4 18th, Byrd's approach tumbled over the green and was one hop away from going into the water. Instead, it settled in a clump of grass, he chipped up to seven feet and made par to stay alive.

Another swing later, he only had to wait for Laird and Percy to hit their shot, and they both landed in the water, to come up with his first win of the year.

"I'm in shock," Byrd said, certainly speaking for everyone watching another Fall Series thriller. Only a week ago, Rocco Mediate won the Frys.com Open at CordeValle by holing a wedge for eagle on the 17th hole of the final round, right after Alex Prugh came within inches of holing out from the tee with a driver. This one was even more incredible, and it came at just the right time. Byrd was 117th on the money list going into Las Vegas. His fourth career victory now gives him a two-year exemption.

Players have made an eagle with a full swing on the final hole to win tournaments but a walk-off ace is among the rarest moments in golf.

Byrd closed with a 68, and he had to watch four times - once in regulation play, three times in a play-off - as Laird stood over a birdie putt with a chance to win. That sequence started in regulation, when Laird had a 30-foot birdie attempt. Laird, the defending champion, shot 69.

Percy, the Australian rookie who needed to win to keep his card on the PGA Tour, earlier holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the last hole for a 67 that allowed him to get into the playoff. They finished at 21-under 263.

Byrd won 481,000 for his first win since the 2007 John Deere Classic.

Webb Simpson was at 22 under and had a one-shot lead until he pulled his tee shot into the water on the 17th and made double bogey. He finished with a 68 and wound up one shot out of the play-off, along with Spencer Levin, who had a 66.

Nick Watney, who lives in Las Vegas and was playing his final tournament before his wedding, had a 66 and shared sixth place with Cameron Beckman, who had a 67.Meanwhile, Matteo Manassero, the 17-year-old Italian whose four-shot triumph at the Castello Masters in Spain on Sunday made him the European Tour's youngest-ever winner, is up from 164th to 88th in the world. Last year's British amateur champion - he was the youngest to lift that title too - and began the year ranked 570th. German Martin Kaymer has moved to a career-high third and either he or England's Lee Westwood will end the 282-week reign of Tiger Woods this week.

Woods, not back in action until next week's WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai, is certain to lose the top spot on Sunday. Westwood, despite being out of action at the moment because of his calf injury, will take over unless Kaymer - winner of his last three European tournaments - has a top-two finish in the Andalucia Masters at Valderrama.