Stuart Appleby beat Vijay Singh at a play-off to win the Mercedes Championship in Hawaii and became only the second player to win the PGA Tour's season-opening event three years in a row.
Appleby made a tap-in birdie at the first extra hole, the par-five 18th, to clinch victory after Singh had missed his attempt from nine feet.
The Australian made hard work of the victory after starting the final round five shots clear of Singh.
However, the Fijian posted a spectacular seven-under-par 66 in the strong winds, easily the week's best round on the Kapalua Plantation course.
But Appleby, after falling behind, made a birdie at the last hole to shoot a 71 and join Singh at eight-under on 284 - four shots clear of Jim Furyk.
Gene Littler (1955-57) is the only other player to win the event, formerly known as the Tournament of Champions, in three consecutive years.
"Winning the Mercedes is awesome, but three times straight is a dream come true," Appleby said.
His winning birdie in the play-off was set up by a powerful second shot that found the greenside bunker, from where he hit an exquisite shot that almost went in, stopping barely two feet away from the flag.
