Jason Dufner secured his first victory on the PGA Tour since the 2013 PGA Championship by beating David Lingmerth in a play-off at the CareerBuilder Challenge.

The American, who had been at the top of the leaderboard for all four rounds in California, held his nerve to win at the second extra hole after Lingmerth fired his approach shot into the water.

Victory had not looked likely earlier on for Dufner, but an outrageous escape from the rocks on the 17th allowed him to save his par and eventually finish the regulation holes alongside Lingmerth on 25-under.

The 38-year-old again had to show his powers of recovery at the first play-off hole when he successfully converted a long par putt to remain in the tournament, and afterwards he admitted that it was a hard fought victory.

He said: “It was pretty tough. This is the best tour in the world so for me to win I feel like I was one of the best players in the world this week.”

Phil Mickelson, Kevin Na and Andrew Loupe finished in a tie for third on 21-under par, but it was Dufner’s day, as he secured his fourth victory on the PGA Tour and first since his maiden major success.

The American is available at 81.00 to win the first major of the year at the Masters in April.