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MIAMI. — South African Charl Schwartzel, the 2011 Masters golf champion, parred the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat American Bill Haas and capture the US PGA Valspar Championship.

Schwartzel won his 15th professional title worldwide, his first since last month’s European Tour Tshwane Open and his first in a US event since he birdied the last four holes at Augusta National to win his first major title five years ago.

Haas was right of a cart path with his tee shot on the first playoff hole, the par-4 18th, and found a bunker with his second shot while Schwartzel landed his ball in the middle of the green. Haas (33) blasted out to 25 feet with his third shot while Schwartzel (31) left his birdie putt two feet short. Haas tapped in for bogey but Schwartzel tapped in for par and the triumph. — AFP.