Appleby bags his hat-trick

Stuart Appleby edged out Vijay Singh in a playoff to clinch a record-equalling third successive Mercedes Championships title.

The 34-year-old Australian birdied the first extra hole after the pair had finished at eight-under-par 284, Appleby closing with a 71 and world number two Singh charging up the leaderboard with a 66.

Two strokes ahead overnight, Appleby became the second player to win the PGA Tour's season-opener three years in a row, hitting a greenside bunker shot to within three feet of the cup for his second birdie of the day at the par-five 18th.

Singh, who had trailed Appleby by five strokes overnight, had a chance there to take the playoff into a second extra hole but missed his birdie attempt from nine feet.

"I played well all week but made a few mistakes over the first three days," the Fijian said. "Today, I was more aggressive and took the golf course on. I needed to make a little run and I hit it like I can."

Appleby, who clinched the seventh PGA Tour victory of his career, became the 15th player to win a Tour title at least three times in a row after a fourth successive day of gusting winds at Kapalua Resort's Plantation Course.

American Gene Littler won the event at Desert Inn Country Club in Las Vegas from 1955 to 1957 when it was known as the Tournament of Champions.

Jim Furyk, the 2001 winner, returned a fourth successive 72 to finish third yesterday at four under with US Open champion Michael Campbell (75) a further two strokes back in a tie for fourth with American Vaughn Taylor (71).

Appleby, who won at Kapalua in much calmer conditions by a shot in 2004 and by the same margin last year, began the day at six under.

He moved to eight under for the first time when he holed a 70-foor putt from just off the green at the 532-yard fifth.
However, he slipped back when he three-putted at the par-four seventh.

After reaching the turn in one-under 35, he experienced a roller-coaster back nine, bogeying 11 and 13 but picking up shots on 12, 15 and at the last.

Singh launched his red-hot run with his first eagle of the week at the par-five fifth, striking a superb second shot from
217 yards to within three feet of the flag.

He nearly drove the green at the 398-yard sixth, chipping to two feet to set up a comfortable birdie three.

The three-times major winner, boosted by some superb approach play, picked up further shots at eight, 12, 15 and 16
to forge two clear of Appleby before opening the door with a bogey at the par-four 17th.

Both players birdied the last to take the tournament into extra time.