KAPALUA, Hawaii, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Stuart Appleby made a birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday to win his third straight Mercedes Championships title at Kapalua, Hawaii.
The birdie came after Appleby hit a bunker shot within tap-in range at the 660-yard 18th hole to become the first player to three-peat in the event since Gene Littler did it from 1955-1957. Appleby and Vijay Singh both ended the event at 8-under-par 284.
Including Appleby and Singh, just six players finished under par after four rounds. The others were: Jim Furyk (4-under 288); Vaughn Taylor and Michael Campbell, who both came in at 2-under 290; and Lucas Glover, who finished 1-under-par 291.
"Winning the Mercedes is awesome," Appleby said, "but three times is a dream come true."
This season-opening event was reserved for PGA Tour winners from 2005. Four of them, including Tiger Woods, did not play.
