Brandt Snedeker claimed an implausible victory at the Farmers Insurance Open that had not seemed remotely possible until Kyle Stanley's triple bogey at the final hole at Torrey Pines.
Stanley held a seven shot lead over Snedeker early in the final round and his maiden US PGA Tour victory seemed assured.
He had consecutive bogeys on the 11th and 12th but still held a three shot lead on the 18th tee.
Snedeker had finished with a 67 for what appeared to be the runners-up spot before heading off to speak to the media.
However, Stanley spun the ball into the water before hitting his fifth shot to the back shelf of the green at which point Snedeker decided to head back to the scoring area.
He then watched Stanley three-putt from 45 feet for a triple-bogey eight and a 74 as the pair headed back to the 18th tee for a playoff.
Snedeker earned the win when he got up and down for par from the back of the green on the second extra hole.
He made his putt of just over five feet and then watched as Stanley's went sliding by the hole to claim his third US PGA Tour victory having been well down in all of them.
He made up five strokes at the 2007 Wyndham Championship and six last year at The Heritage when he beat Luke Donald in a playoff.
He said: "When I had the second chance, I really had to get myself refocused and realize that this tournament is anybody's now, now that I was in the playoff.
"If anybody had an advantage, I did, because I had done that a couple times before. I had won in a playoff on tour, and I know Kyle probably wasn't in his best frame of mind at that point after doing what he did on 18.
"So I really refocused. I played great in the playoff. Hit one bad tee shot on 18, and made a good putt on 18 for birdie, hit a great five iron on 16.
"I thought it was going to be right next to it. It ended up going over, but made a great putt there on those greens.
"I'm just floored right now. I had no idea I was going to be in this room right now for a second time. So I'm so excited."
Snedeker started the final round at Torrey Pines trailing Stanley by seven strokes after a disappointing 74 in the third round had seemingly given the Tennessean too much ground to make up.
Snedeker closed with a 67 which tied Bud Cauley for the day's low round.
John Rollins finished one back after a 71 with Bill Haas and Cameron Tringale tied for fourth after rounds of 71 and 72 respectively.
