Haas triumphs in playoff

American Bill Haas rolled in a 45-foot putt for birdie on the second play-off hole to claim the Northern Trust Open.

Haas' long birdie try found the back of the cup on the 10th hole at the Riviera Country Club, with fellow Americans Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley unable to match their compatriot.

The trio finished tied on seven-under at the top of the leaderboard after 72 holes, with Mickelson and Bradley making clutch birdie putts on the final hole to force the sudden-death playoff.

Bradley had the chance to claim the title at the first playoff hole, the 18th, but pushed his birdie attempt wide as all players made par, before Haas' heroics at the 10th gave the American his fifth professional win.

Four players - Australian Jarrod Lyle (70), Spaniard Sergio Garcia (64) and American duo Jimmy Walker (69) and Dustin Johnson (71) - finished in a tie for fourth place, two shots behind the leading trio, while Americans Bo Van Pelt, JB Holmes and Jonathan Byrd were a further stroke back at four-under.

It was a tense final day in California with Mickelson, Bradley and Haas all sharing time at the top of the leaderboard and looking like the likely winner at different stages.

Haas made a vital birdie at the 17th to claim a one-stroke advantage as Mickelson and Bradley - playing in the final group - bogeyed the 15th to drop back to six-under overall.

Mickelson and Bradley made their birdies at the last, but it only delayed the celebrations for Haas.

Of the other Australians in action, Aaron Baddeley (-3), Adam Scott (-1) and Marc Leishman (-1) can be happy with their weekend's work, while John Senden (+4) and Jason Day (+9) finished over-par.