Sato ekes out playoff win

After relinquishing the lead on the 12th hole during Sunday's final round of the PGA Tour Series-China season opener, Japan's Taihei Sato recovered enough to still have an opportunity to win the Chongqing Championship in regulation.

Sato, who led after each of the first three rounds, faced a six-foot, right-to-left birdie putt that would have all but sealed the victory－but he couldn't get it to drop.

All that did, however, was delay his celebration after defeating China's "William" Liu Yanwei on the third playoff hole to become the first Japanese to taste victory on the tour.

"I knew it was going to be a tough day today. I had the lead, but I knew there were good players chasing me so I just did my best," said Sato. "Luckily, I managed to win even though I didn't play my best."

In the first series-opening playoff in the tour's history, Sato and Liu both went par-birdie on the first and second extra holes on Poly Golf Club's par-5 18th.

The shootout then moved to the par-3 17th, where both players hit the green with their tee shots.

Liu couldn't convert his 23-foot birdie putt, then watched as Sato holed out from 11 feet.

"This isn't the first win of my career, but it might be the best," Sato said.

"I'm very happy to win the first PGA Tour Series-China event of the season, especially when there were so many good players in the field.

"I played pretty well all week, but I was getting desperate to win going into the playoff."

When Liu eagled the par-5 15th in regulation, chipping in from 80 feet, it looked like it might be enough to steal the win.

Two holes later, Sato missed the green with his tee shot, then couldn't get up and down for par. Liu only had to roll in a two-footer for par to take sole possession of the lead going to the final hole, but he missed.

"That was really a bummer. That would have given me a one-shot lead on the last hole," said Liu.

"Overall, it was a great week, but I'm pretty disappointed. I'm happy with how I played, but it's still a little bit disappointing."

David Kocher of the US, who fired four birdies over his final five holes, finished alone in third while Max McGreevy, also of the US, birdied No 17 to finish fourth at 16-under.

Notes:

* This week the PGA Tour Series-China features the Sanya Championship at Yalong Bay Golf Club in Sanya, followed by the April 8-14 Haikou Championship at Sunac Haikou 3 KM Golf Club in Haikou.

* With Sato becoming the first winner from Japan on the PGA Tour Series-China, players from eight countries have been crowned champions in the series: China, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand and the United States.

* Three players from China posted top-10s this week. Besides runner-up Liu Yanwei, the others were Zhang Jin and Huang Wenyi, who tied for seventh.