Leonard ends drought with play-off win

US Tour/Texas Open:Justin Leonard nailed a 17-foot birdie putt on the third play-off hole to win his third Texas Open on Sunday and deny Jesper Parnevik his first title in six years.

Leonard, who began the day four shots off the lead, forced a play-off with a final-round five-under-par 65, that included a stretch of three consecutive birdies from the 12th, to end his own two-year title drought.

He joined Arnold Palmer as the only three-time winners of the event.

After missing the cut in his first six starts of the season, the former British Open champion has enjoyed some superb late-season form, following up his 13th place at the Turning Stone Resort two weeks ago with his 11th career PGA Tour win.

"You don't always see the fruits of hard work out here," Leonard said. "Sometimes you do but not always. So you have to find your own way to measure progress outside of results. But, you know, there's no better way to validate it than to come out and win a golf tournament like this.

"When I came back in 2002 to try and win for the third straight time, I remember a lot of the talk was of trying to join Arnold Palmer. I didn't think about it today, which is probably a good thing, but it's great company to be in."

Parnevik carried a three-shot cushion into the final round, but got his day off to a wobbly start, going two-over through 11 holes.

Leonard charged through the outward nine in three under to join him atop the leaderboard at San Antonio's La Cantera Golf Club.

The Swede battled back with four birdies on his next six holes, but his one-under 69 was only good enough to put him in a play-off on 19-under 261.

After parring the first two extra-holes Parnevik looked set to steal the win but his long birdie putt at the 17th stopped just short.

Leonard, however, did not miss sinking a nerve-jangling 17-footer to clinch his first play-off victory in five tries.

"I had to dig pretty deep today because I got off to a bad start, I couldn't get any momentum going at all on the front nine," said Parnevik.

"I wanted to win, but, like I said, the tough thing is to actually get into position. I actually got to feel it again, because it's been a while."