• Justin Timberlake Shriners Open, Final Round

Byrd hits miracle play-off ace

Jonathan Byrd holds the Justin Timberlake trophy next to JT himself © Getty Images

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Jonathan Byrd landed an incredible hole-in-one on the fourth play-off hole to win the Justin Timberlake Shriners Open in fading light in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Defending champion Martin Laird and Cameron Percy could only turn and congratulate Byrd after the crowd's cheer confirmed his tee shot had found its way into to hole at the par three 17th, by this time so dark on course that the players couldn't actually see the shot go in.

Scotland's Laird and Australia's Percy each had the chance to replicate Byrd's heroics to keep the tournament alive but both found the water hazard next to the green with their ace attempts.

Byrd said immediately afterwards: "I'm in shock. I don't really know what to say. I couldn't see it. I hit it perfect but for it to go in, that's just luck."

The three-man play-off had more twists and turns than most four-day tournaments. The players were asked after the third play-off hole whether they would like to continue in the fast-fading light or come back to resume play on Monday morning. Byrd, prophetically, told the other players to make the decision and Laird and Percy decided to go "one more".

This after Byrd's second shot on the par four 18th, which the players were tackling for the third time in quick succession, rolled off the green towards the water only to stop inches short of the out of bounds mark.

Byrd was perhaps due a slice of luck though after his birdie putt at the 17th during the second play-off hole somehow turned a full circle of the cup without dropping. All three players had driven wayward tee shots at the first play-off hole only to all narrowly miss tough birdie putt attempts and settle for pars, as was the case on the second and third play-off holes before Byrd ended things suddenly and dramatically.

Byrd drained birdies at No 15, 16 and 17 and Percy grabbed a birdie on the 18th green to join Laird at the top of the leaderboard at 21-under after overnight leader Laird had recovered from two early bogeys to record a two-under round of 69.

The three men finished at 21-under after four rounds but they might not have even been involved in the play-off had Webb Simpson not thrown away his lead with a double bogey at the 17th. Simpson finished a shot behind the leaders along with Spencer Levin.

Ultimately, the Vegas luck shone on Byrd and like the blackjack players at the nearby casinos, he found an ace at just the right moment.

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