Els had a 67 to match Dufner at 19-under 269, while entering the fourth round with a two-shot lead, Dufner shot a 2-under 70 at TPC Louisiana. In the first playoff, both missed birdie putts within 2.4m on the par-5 18th, so they went back to the 18th tee for the second extra hole, which Dufner won by hitting the green in two strokes and tapping home a short birdie putt after Els’ birdie attempt from the fringe narrowly missed.

Els have not won on the PGA Tour since the 2010 Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Els’ tee shot went into a fairway bunker, and his second shot landed 125m from the pin on the second playoff hole. He nearly saved birdie from there, his putt missing by 5cm, although his third shot landed on the fringe.

Dufner then made his birdie putt from less than 60cm. He then briefly raised both arms to acknowledge the cheering crowd in his typically low-key way, before casually walking off the green to accept some congratulatory hugs.

On the PGA Tour this season, Dufner became the third first-time winner, following Kyle Stanley at the Phoenix Open and John Huh at the Mayakoba Golf Classic. He was quite confident, though, that the demands of that one-foot putt on the second extra hole had made him more tense than he was likely to feel when taking his wedding vows on Saturday.

After 11 holes, Els and Dufner were tied at 19 under. Els made par on each of his final seven holes of regulation. Dufner salvaged par with a 44-foot putt, although he made par on his final eight, none more difficult than on 16, when he hit into water. While Dufner chipped on to set up a potential winning putt from 10 1/2 feet, Els was on the practice green preparing for a possible playoff.

Although he could not convert, he made up for it in the playoff, pushing the ball about a foot past the right edge of the hole. Now it is on to his wedding in Auburn, Alabama. His plans for the honeymoon is little unclear and it could be on the hold until after the British Open.

Tiger Woods has committed to the event this year and he will attempt to find his swing on one of his favorite golf courses. Woods finished tenth in his last event, the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship, now he plans on stepping it up a notch in the Arnold Palmer event. Woods will no doubt be near the top of the favorites in Golf Betting Odds.

Woods, a six time winner of the event, watched from home as Ernie Els won the event and he has hopes of taking home his seventh trophy as he looks to reclaim his No. 1 golfer in the world status.

Ernie Els will return as well to defend his title and he will be one of the favorites heading into the event. Other golfers to watch on the Bay Hill course will be Jhonattan Vegas and K.J. Choi.

Jhonattan Vegas ranks third in the FedEx Cup standings and his season has been magical to this point. Vegas has scored four top 25 finishes in eight tournaments and he has a first and a third this early in the season.

K.J. Choi ranks 46th in the FedEx Cup standings but he is coming off of a seventh place finish in the Northern Trust Open in Los Angeles. Choi has struggled with accuracy this year but he been better than average scrambling to save his shots.

Behind by three shots, Els ended up with a one-shot win over David Toms, finishing with a 2-under 69 in the tournament and winning $600,000 in prize money.

Els was filling in for Masters champion Phil Mickelson as an alternate. It was his second victory in the 36-hole event, which is reserved for the year’s four major champions. Els also won in 1997 when it was at Poipu Bay.

Toms, another alternate who replaced British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, chipped in for birdie on No. 12 and stretched his lead to three shots when Els bogeyed the 13th.

Els made the first of his successive birdies on the 14th at Port Royal Golf Course, but his hopes for a two-shot swing ended when Toms again chipped in, this time for par.

“When a guy does it once, you’re thinking, ‘Good shot.’ When he does it twice in three holes, you’re thinking maybe he’s destined to win this thing,” Els said. “It took a bit of the pressure off me in a way, where I freewheeled it, tried to see how close I could get to him.”

Toms shot 71 in his first appearance in the PGA Grand Slam since 2001, when he won the PGA Championship. He earned $300,000. U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell (73) and PGA champion Martin Kaymer (71) tied for third, eight shots behind, and each earned $225,000.

Els will play a tournament next week in Malaysia and then in the HSBC Champions event in Shanghai the following week.

Young Nick Watney is back to defend his title and he loves Torrey Pines. His will be a 20-1 favorite to win again this year. Watney is joined by Phil Mickelson who makes his 2010 debut at Torrey Pines. To say Mickelson loves Torrey Pines is an understatement. Mickelson has won here numerous times and is a 6-1 favorite.

Also in the strong field are Robert Allenby of Australia, Luke Donald, and John Rollins who all are 15-1 to win. Young American pros Hunter Mahan, Lucas Glover, and Ryan Palmer all could be factors at 18-1 odds.

Don’t forget about veteran Ernie Els, who is off to a good start in 2010. Els could be a good play 1t 25-1. A crowd favorite and wildcard pick this week at Torrey could be Rocco Mediate. Rocco loves the course and feels he has a score to settle with it. Rocco tees off at 40-1 odds, and that is just the way he likes it.