PALM HARBOR, Fla. (AP) — Luke Donald returned to No. 1 in the world the same way he got there the first time.
Donald rallied from a three-shot deficit Sunday with a 5-under 66 to get into a four-man playoff at the Transitions Championship. He won on the first extra hole with a 6-foot birdie putt that curled in the left side.
Donald ends the two-week reign of Rory McIlroy at No. 1.
He first got to top of the world ranking last May by winning a playoff over Lee Westwood at Wentworth. This time, he had to beat Jim Furyk, Robert Garrigus and Bae Sang-Moon.
Ernie Els, needing a win to get into the Masters, missed a 4-foot par putt on the 18th in regulation to finish one shot out of the playoff.