Sato wins in Chongqing in playoff

CHONGQING, China — After relinquishing the lead on the 12th hole during the final round of the PGA TOUR Series-China season-opener—an advantage Taihei Sato had held each of the first three rounds—the Japanese player recovered enough to still have an opportunity to win the Chongqing Championship in regulation.

Sato faced a six-foot, right-to-left-breaking birdie putt that would have secured the victory. But it was a putt he couldn't get to drop. All that miss did, though, was prolong the ecstasy he would feel later when he defeated China's Yanwei "William" Liu on the third playoff hole, becoming the first player from Japan to win on this Tour.

With the earliest playoff to a season in Series history unfolding, Sato and Liu both went par-birdie on the first and second extra holes—held on Poly Golf Club's par-5 18th. The playoff then moved to the par-3 17th hole. Both players hit the green with their tee shots, but Liu couldn't convert his 23-foot birdie putt and Sato could—from 11 feet.