INJURED FOX IN THE HUNT ON GLENEAGLES FIRST DAY

By RON MARSHALL
PGA Scottish Region Press Officer
A rib injury sustained during a practice round at Gleneagles last week almost put paid to Graham Fox's chances of playing in the Gleneagles PGA Scottish Championship.
But the old adage, beware the injured golfer, certainly held true for the Ayrshireman, who, bolstered by strong painkillers, signed for an opening three-under 68 on Monday over the King's Course, to share the lead with fellow Ayrshireman, Jim McKinnon, and Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy).
The 35-year-old Fox, originally from West Kilbride, slipped and fell awkwardly on the second tee during a practice round last Wednesday, and had to leave the course. Painkillers were prescribed, and it was touch and go whether he would travel to the famed Perthshire resort.
Losing, he reckoned, about 15% on his distance, he nevertheless grabbed five birdies, offset by two bogeys, and expressed himself happy with his current form, tutored by fellow pro, Ross Aitken, at Rowallan Castle GC.
McKinnon unleashed a searing run just after the turn, with birdies at the 10th, 11th , where he chipped in from 20 yards, the 12th, and topped off by an eagle at the short par-four 14th, where he drove to 10 feet and holed the putt.
On greens affected by the recent heavy rain, McKinnon three-putted the fourth and 16th, but he had no complaints, and has every intention of improving on his previous best performance here, 11th place five years ago.
Kerr's record in the championship is impressive - third last year and fourth in 2009. "I can't be disappointed at coming third last year, but winning this event gives you something that can't be taken away, and it's good for your cv."
Yesterday the 29-year-old played steadily - "no highlights or dramas" - carding four birdies and a bogey. And after this week, he begins his preparation for Stage 2 of the European Tour School by heading to Spain to play in a couple of Hi5 events before the big school test in early December.
Four players are on 69, one shot off the lead - Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Alan Reid (West Lothian), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), and former champion, Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle
to the
Pre-tournament favourite Stephen Gray (Hayston), leader of the Tartan Tour's money table and Order of Merit, started with a one-over-par 72 which was made up of birdies at the long 10th and 14th plus three bogeys.

LEADING FIRST-ROUND SCORES
Par 71
68 Graham Fox (Rowallan Castle), James Mckinnon (Irvine), Mark Kerr (Marriott Dalmahoy).
69 Nigel Scott-Smith (Palacerigg), Alan Reid (West Lothian), Craig Gordon (Edinburgh Golf Centre), Jason McCreadie (Buchanan Castle).
70 David Orr (East Renfrewshire), Chris Kelly (Cawder) Chris Currie (Caldwell), Greig Hutcheon (Banchory), Greg McBain (Gamola Golf).
71 Craig Ronald (Carluke), Graeme Brown (Montrose Golf Links), Ross Cameron (McDonald Ellon), Gareth Wright (West Linton), Alan Lockhart (Ladybank), Mark King (Kingsfield), Robert Arnott (Bishopbriggs Golf Range), James McGhee (Duddingston), Grant Smith (Gleneagles Hotel).
72 Paul Jamieson (Dunblane New), Ian Brown (Newent), Paul McKechnie (Braid Hills), Tom Buchanan (Duddingston), Paul Wardell (Whitekirk), Scott Henderson (Kings Links), Stephen Gray (Hayston), Ronan Rafferty (Roxburghe), Samuel Cairns (Colville Park).
73 Fraser Dunlop (Gleneagles Hotel), Alastair Mackenzie (Renaissance Club), Ross Dixon (Renaissance Club), Neil Fenwick (Dunbar), Paul Wilson (Cawder), Colin Gillies (Kingsfield), Craig Matheson (Falkirk Tryst).

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WESTWOOD SAYS ASIA-PACIFIC DESERVES TO BE MAJOR VENUE

FROM THE SKY SPORTS WEBSITE

By Tim Maitland
World No 2 Lee Westwood thinks men's golf should create a new major in the Asia-Pacific region.
The 38-year-old Englishman made the suggestion, despite being a supporter of the history behind the four events - The Masters, US Open, the Open Championship in the UK and the PGA Championship - that currently make up the highlights of the golf season.
"I like the tradition of the majors. I think the men's game has got it pretty much right, although I'd like to see another major somewhere else in the world. Somewhere like Asia or Australia," said Westwood, who will be playing in the WGC-HSBC Champions - Asia's one truly world-class tournament - in Shanghai in November.
The HSBC Champions was added to the World Golf Championships schedule in 2009, the first time a WGC event had been staged outside the United States since 2006.
Like many European golfers, Westwood fully supported that move and believes they should play an even bigger part in the growing internationalisation of the sport.
"The World Golf Championships should move around and encapsulate the whole world because it's in the title of the tournaments.
"They should be played by players from all over the world and be played all over the world.
"I see the way that the Asian economy and markets have supported golf over the last few years and they deserve to have big tournaments there."
"China's an emerging market for golf; there's so many courses being built, people taking up the sport and people getting interested in the sport.
"It's somewhere that World Golf Championships have got to be played because it could turn into such a dominant force.
"Last year's event was great! Myself and Francesco (Molinari) ran away from the field. It probably looked good on TV and that sort of thing gets people interested.
"The more tournaments there are played there, the more interest there will be," said the Nottinghamshire-born star who finished one shot short of adding a win in Shanghai to a record that includes wins everywhere from Australia, through Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Dubai, as well as in golf's traditional heartlands.
"I see the way that the Asian economy and markets have supported golf over the last few years and they deserve to have big tournaments there. Asian golf is getting bigger isn't it?
"Asia seems to be one of the places that hasn't been hit so hard by the financial crisis.
"Europe and America have been nailed really, so Asia's going to be looking more healthy. Sponsors are more likely to want to put money into sporting events there because they've got it."
Westwood's comments come after the Ladies Professional Golf Association was reported to have considered Asia as the location for the fifth Major they were creating this year, before eventually deciding to bestow the honour on the Evian Masters in France.
"Look how many good Asian ladies there are at the moment," he added. "They should have a Major in Asia. Every year you turn on the TV it's a Korean lady winning or that's how it seems."

STEPHEN DODD FIRST-ROUND LEADER IN WELSH PRO CH/SHIP

WELSH NATIONAL PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Southerndown, Bridgend, October 10-11.

FIRST-ROUND LEADERS
Par 70
69 Stephen Dodd (unattached)
70 Liam Bond (Marriott St Pierre)
71 Matthew Tottey (North Wales Golf Club)
73 Simon Edwards (Windermere)
74 Joe Ferguson (Celtic Manor), Andrew Humphreys (Llanymynech)
75 Richard Dinsdale (Parc Golf Academy), Mark Plummer (Cirencester), Jack Roberts (Arscott Golf Club)
76 Adam Constable (Cardiff), Trevor Jones (Whipsnade), Matthew Davies (Royal Liverpool).

A full run down of first round scores can be found at: http://pgagbi.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/pgagbi11/event/pgagbi11672/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

GREG NICOLSON IN TOP TEN AFTER ROUND 1 OF DUBAI OPEN

FROM THE MENA GOLF TOUR WEBSITE
DUBAI - Peter Richardson, by his own reckoning, played solid golf to seize the early momentum in the Shaikh Maktoum Dubai Open, the third and the penultimate event on the MENA Golf Tour, at Al Badia Golf Club today.
The talented Englishman reeled off seven birdies, including four on the back nine, and a bogey in his impressive six-under-par 66 to take a two-shot lead over the Pakistan duo of Shahid Murtaza Ahmed and Aadil Jehangir, Dale Marminon of the United States and Cennydd Mills from Wales.
Four players were bunched together a further shot adrift on a 69 with the eclectic mix of contenders including Zane Scotland, the winner of the Abu Dhabi Golf Citizen Open, Anil Shah of Kenya, Nabil Abdul of Australia and Kenya’s Brian Njoroge.
Among the notables, experienced Yasin Ali carded a two-under-par 70 while UAE’s leading amateur Ahmed Al Musharrekh settled for a level-par 72, two shots ahead of his compatriot Khalid Yousuf.
Mortonhall's rookie pro Greg Nicolson earned himself a place in the top 10 overnight with a 70.
On a day when 26 players, including three amateurs, broke par, it was Richardson who made most of benign conditions, overcoming an early bogey to string together the best round on the Tour so far.
"I started with a birdie, but dropped a shot on the second which was a bit frustrating," said Richardson, who finished tied third at the Ras Al Khaimah Classic last week.
"My round picked up steam especially on the back nine where I had four birdies. A 10-foot putt for a par on the 17th was pretty satisfying too. Overall, I had a pretty good day at work."
His playing partner, Al Musharrekh, also created many scoring opportunities, but couldn’t convert them. "I know this course well and should have done better, but missed at least six to seven birdie chances. Hopefully, things would be fine in the next two rounds," he said.
Former European Tour player Zane Scotland, who fractured a bone in his right foot when his friends pushed him into a swimming pool on Friday, literally played on one leg to keep himself in contention.
"I needed to take pain killers and change my swing to survive the day. Luckily we had carts and that helped," said Scotland. "Under the circumstances, I would have gladly taken a one or two over par score, but a three-under-par is certainly a bonus," said Scotland who skipped the second Mena Tour event to compete in the Euro Pro Tour Championship in Spain.
Experienced English-born Yasin Ali who flirted with success in the first two Tour events was equally pleased with his day’s efforts. "I didn’t start well and felt completely out of sync on the front nine, but two birdied on the back nine steadied my round.
"The course is in superb conditions and I think everyone will enjoy playing on it," said Yasin who finished second and tied seventh respectively in the first two events.
Morocco’s Serghini was left bemoaning putts that got away. "The course is playing well and I should have done much better, but I three putted the first (for a bogey) and the last (for a par). This is golf. A two under par is not a bad start and I look forward to building on it."
His compatriot Mustapha El-Maouas and Brett Amstrong of Australia fired an identical one-par-71 to lead the field in the amateur category.
Leading first round scores
Par 72
66 Peter Richardson (Eng).
68 Shahid Murtaza Ahmed (Pak), Aadil Jehangir (Pak), Dale Marmion (US), Cennydd Mills (Wales).
69 Anil Shah (Kenya), Zane Scotland (Eng), Nabil Abdul (Aus), Brian Njoroge (Kenya)
70 Chris Chamberlain (Eng), Yasin Ali (Eng), Gary Birch jun (Ger), Faycal Serghini (Mor), Ubi Michael Eteng (Nigeria), Greg Nicolson (Sco), Lindsay Renolds (Can).
71 Jake Shepherd (Eng), Mustapha El-Maouas (Morocco) (am), Simon Dunn (Sco), Brett Armstrong (Aus) (am), Jonathan Porteous (Sco), Nasser Yacoob(Bahrain) (am), Shafiq Masih (Pak), Matloob Ahmed (Pak), Odoh Andrew Oche (Nigeria), Willy Gift Elemenya (Nigeria)
72 Ganeev Giddie (Kenya), Abdelhak Sabi (Morocco), Daniel Owen (Eng) (am), Hamad Mubarak (Bahrain), Ross Canavan (Eng), Ahmed Al Musharrekh (UAE) (am), Trevor Marshall (NZ).

HUGH HUNTER'S CLACKMANNAN COUNTY NEWS

TOP TWENTY FINISH FOR ALLOA JUNIORS

In yesterday's final of the Highland Spring Junior Masters over the Queens course Gleneagles, the two Alloa juniors put in a creditable performance. From a field of 50 boys, Clackmannan county junior boy champion Brian McAdam finished with 28 points (19th equal) in the Stableford event and smooth swinging Gregor McEwan went one better with 29 points (16th equal). The boys' winner scored 36 points.

SCOTTISH ALLIANCE CHAMPIONSHIP WASHED OUT
Last week’s Scottish Alliance Championship, due to be played over 54 holes at Buchanan Castle, was curtailed to a single round due to the weather conditions.Prizes were awarded over one round only, with county players in the prize list.
Seniors Order of Merit winner Bob Stewart (Tulliallan) tied for first place in the Senior Scratch division with a score of 82 and Alloa’s Ray Barton picked up the 4th equal handicap prize with a net score of 75.
Experienced campaigner Alan Glass (Alloa) distinguished himself with a hole in one at the 8th and collected a special prize.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY SENIORS' AUTUMN MEETING
Thirty-eight Clackmannan senior golfers braved the wet conditions at Braehead in the Clackmannan county seniors' autumn meeting. Played in three divisions as a Stableford competition, five scores of 36 points were recorded and……. taking care not to fall foul of data protection on ages, the prize-winners (in mixed order) in the three divisions are as follows.
Winning scratch W Bell (Tulliallan) 27 points; M Niven (Alloa) 29 ; V Allan (Dollar) 30
Runner up scratch. B Christie (Braehead) 21 I Peddie (Tulliallan) 20 W Hatley (Tillicoultry) 26
Winning handicap. M J Todd (Dollar) 36 H Hunter (Alloa) 33 G Ferguson ( Braehead) 36
Runner up handicap. A Parker (Tulliallan); D Hawke (Braehead) 33 ; C Beattie (Braehead) 36
3rd place handicap. R Macdonald (Dollar) 32; B Macdonald (Dollar) 34 F Anderson (Braehead) 31
A team competition was run alongside the individual event with Dollar scoring 138 points (Todd 36, Allan 36, R Macdonald 34, B Macdonald 32) and finishing 1 point ahead of home team Braehead.

CLACKMANNAN COUNTY ORDER OF MERIT FINISHES
Clackmannan county secretary Tommy Johnson has completed the 2011 Order of Merit rankings with Michael Robertson confirmed as retaining his 2010 title.
1. Michael Robertson (Alva) 545 points; 2 Jamie Aitken (Alloa) 500; 3. Scott Moffat (Braehead) 475; 4 Lawrence Allan (Alva) 340; 5. David Milloy (Alloa) 240 6 John Gullen (Tillicoultry) 227.5


CRUNCH TIME FOR CALLUM ON CHALLENGE TOUR.
With only two events left on the Challenge Tour schedule, it looks like Tulliallan’s Callum Macaulay will be heading back to the European Tour Qualifying School in Spain next month.
Over a week ago, Callum just missed the cut by one shot after a brilliant second round, and in last week’s event at Lyon, Callum started well but two over par rounds of 74 and 73 left him down the field on his two under par total of 282 ( 67,74,73,68).
Callum plays in the Rome Open this week, when the Challenge Tour moves to Italy for the end of the 2011 season.

LANARKSHIRE DRAW 5-5 WITH STIRLINGSHIRE

Lanarkshire drew 5-5 on Sunday with Stirlingshire A-Team in the thirdrd round of the West of Scotland Inter-County League at Drumpellier Golf Club.
Results (Lanarkshire names first)

James Steven lost to Graeme Robertson 2 and 1.
Steven Rennie bt Hugh Nelson 4 and 3.
Stewart Henderson bt Fraser Moore 4 and 3.
Craig Ross bt Tommy Morrison 3 and 2.
David Davidson lost to Stuart Haddow 3 and 2.
Scott Douglas lost to Mark Findlay 2 and 1.
Colin Kerr lost to Mark Cox 3 and 2.
Mark O’Donnell bt Mark Hislop 3 and 2.
Eamon Bradley bt Bobby Rushford 3 and 1.
J J Smith lost to Ryan Campbell 5 and 5.

Next weekend Lanarkshire play host to Dumbartonshire at East Kilbride.
Lanarkshire hold their club representatives meeting tonight (Monday, October 10) at Cambuslang Golf Club at 7.30pm.
Among other items on the agenda will be a suggestion to change inter-club matches from 10-a-side to eight-a-side and also to recommend the approval for the use of distance-measuring devices in all league matches and Lanarkshire Golf Association events.
Willie Sharpe
President
Lanarkshire Golf Association

FAXON'S FIRST SENIORS TITLE - AFTER LAST-ROUND WASHED OUT

FROM THE US CHAMPIONS TOUR WEBSITE
THE WOODLANDS, Texas (AP) -- Brad Faxon won the Insperity Championship without hitting a shot on Sunday when heavy rain washed out the final round of the Champions Tour event.
Faxon, pictured, an eight-time winner on the US PGA Tour, who turned 50 on Aug. 1, shot a 7-under 65 in windy conditions Saturday to take a one-stroke lead at 10-under at The Woodlands Country Club.
Tommy Armour III was second, and Eduardo Romero finished two strokes back. Jay Haas, Olin Browne and Schwab Cup points leader Tom Lehman (70) followed at 7 under, and winner Fred Couples was 4 under.
Faxon won his first title on the 50-and-over circuit in his sixth start.
"I had passed all my goals this week, was hitting my irons a lot better and made a 4-footer on 18 on Saturday, which turned out to be the winning stroke," he said about the victory that he learned about when he received a text message while standing in the clubhouse.
The round was washed out after two morning delays, Faxon was asked if had ever won a tournament as a pro or amateur, without hitting a shot because of weather on the final day.
"Nope, never. Not one, definitely never," Faxon said. "I can't say I was hoping for a rainout because of what a win means out here, but I wanted to play. I was playing really good."
Champions Tour official Brian Claar said Tour regulations do not allow for a Monday finish.
"There was no place to push the water it was came down so fast and we had already had so much rain today," Claar said.
Armour remained winless on the Tour, but did move into top 30 in the money standings to possible qualify for the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup.
"Sure I wanted to play, but there was nothing we could do," Armour said. "It's just what we have here. I am ready to go, but there nothing you can do about this."
Lehman retained his large lead in the season-long Charles Schwab Cup points standings headed to the final two events of the season.

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MALLINGER'S WHEELS COME OFF - CARBALLO'S 1st WIN IN 5 YEARS

By Joe Chemycz, Nationwide Tour staff
CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee -- Argentina's Miguel Carballo, buoyed by back-to-back back-nine eagles, stepped into the winner's circle Sunday at the ninth annual Children's Hospital Classic in Chattanooga.
Carballo rolled in consecutive 30-footers to turn the tide during the final round at Black Creek Mountain and collect his second career win, and his first in five years. A four-foot birdie putt at the closing hole was the icing on his cake, an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot win over Monday qualifier Brice Garnett.
"I can't describe this feeling," said Carballo as his caddie interpreted for the media. "This is absolutely spectacular."
Carballo, a playoff runner-up two weeks ago in California, picked up the winner's check for $90,000 to move to No. 5 on the money list which guarantees the 32-year-old a spot on the US PGA Tour next year.
There are only three events left on the Nationwide Tour schedule and THE 25 leading money winners following the Tour Championship at Daniel Island will earn TOUR cards for 2012. Carballo's current total is more than enough to land him a spot in that group.
San Diego rookie Aaron Goldberg finished third, three shots back and Floridian Matt Every was solo fourth, five behind. Lefty B.J. Staten was alone in fifth.
Third-round leader John Mallinger shot a 3-over 75 and settled for a tie for sixth with Doug LaBelle, Billy Hurley and 2044 champion Justin Bolli.
Sunday's final round was in the hands of the red-hot Mallinger, who has been a regular figure among the daily leaders for the past five weeks but still seeking his first career win. When the 32-year old rolled in birdies on the second and third holes, he was at 22-under and held a four stroke lead.
Then it happened. The wheels came off.
Mallinger four-putted a par-5 to make double bogey at No. 6, then yanked his tee shot on the par-3 7th and watched his ball hit a cart path and go out of bounds. Double bogey.
His second shot at the ninth hole wound up in a hazard in front of the green. Another double.
Before he knew what hit him, his four-shot lead was gone and he was five shots back of the new leaders, Carballo and Hurley, who witnessed Mallinger's melt down first hand.
"I thought I was mentally strong coming out of the gate with birdies," said Mallinger. "I made a couple of bad putts, then one bad swing. It was a shocker. I can't really explain it."
Mallinger didn't settle down until midway through the back nine but by then the damage was done. A half dozen players were challenging for the lead, led by Carballo, who was one group in front of Mallinger and Hurley and had eagled that same par-5 where Mallinger made seven.
"I really didn't know what was going on with them," Carballo siad. "The first time I looked at a board was on the ninth hole."
What he saw was his name atop the leaderboard.
Playing with Garnett, who tried to keep pace, Carballo edged in front with his second and third eagles of the afternoon at Nos. 14 and 15. The second one came on a 347-yard, par-4 where the tees had been moved up far enough to entice the thrill-seekers to try and drive the green.
"I was talking to my caddie and we just decided to hit it at the green," he said. "It was a great shot, about 30 feet, right in the middle."
Carballo, T3 in putting this week, was perfect.
"Those two holes, those were the most important," said the winner. "I still felt like I needed to make birdies."
Carballo's second shot at the next hole, a par-4, nearly went in for another eagle but settled less than two feet from the cup and he made birdie.
Garnett was counterpunching and making birdies of his own and was only one shot back with two to go.
"I just started making some putts," said Garnett, who was a member of the Tour a year ago but without status in 2011. "I was so happy the way I held up on the back side today."
Both players made bogey at the par-3, 17th, setting the stage for some drama at the 532-yard, par-5.
Garnett's second shot wound up in a hazard but a near miraculous chip hit the hole and stopped six feet away. Carballo was in the greenside bunker in two and blasted to four feet. Garnett needed to make his putt to force Carballo's hand.
"After he missed I knew I had two putts to win," said Carballo. "I wanted to make that one for birdie because that's how you win the championship."

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STEPHEN GRAY FAVOURITE TO LAND FIRST SCOTTISH PRO TITLE

FROM: RON MARSHALL, PRESS OFFICER, SCOTTISH REGION PGA.
The most improved player on the Tartan Tour this year has to be Hayston’s Stephen Gray, and whether he likes it or not, he tees up this morning as favourite in the £50,000 Gleneagles Scottish PGA Championship over the King’s Course at the Perthshire venue.
Gray, a PGA member for 15 years, all of that time spent attached to the Kirkintilloch club, leads the Tartan Tour on two counts – their Order of Merit and the Money List, the latter around £32,000. He finished tied 15th in the Gleneagles championship a year ago, but as the season has unfolded the burly Gray has picked up the top cheques at the Aberdeen Asset Northern Open and the Kerr Investments 36-holer.
“I know what’s up for grabs this week, but you can’t get too ahead of yourself”, said Gray (pictured). “You’ve just got to go and play the game, and if you don’t get the basics right, then the clever stuff’s hard to find.”
Victory in the Scottish Region’s flagship event has eluded him over the years. That gap in his CV he would love to fill, and his coach for the past four years, Lanark pro Alan White, certainly has every faith in him.
“Maybe some of my other players might object but Stevie is the hardest worker I’ve ever coached. He’s knows he’s the favourite. All he has to do now is buckle down and win.”
Eight previous champions are in the line-up of 69 players, but holder Chris Doak, is pursuing Challenge Tour success this week in Rome, as is Craig Lee.
Among the most determined challengers for the Gleneagles title should be 1999 champion, Greig Hutcheon from Banchory.
Having missed out by a single stroke at the first stage of the European Tour’s qualifying school, the Aberdeenshire pro is determined to end an otherwise successful year on a high.
Others knocking at the door could be Gareth Wright, who lost only after a play-off last year, Paul McKechnie, Chris Kelly, David Patrick, Scott Henderson, and Alan Lockhart, who, incidentally, along with Wright, were the only two players a year ago to have four rounds in the 60s.
The championship is being played over the King’s Course for only the second time, having moved there last year.
Bernard Murphy, general manager of the five-star resort, said: ‘We’re fortunate to have three championship courses, and were delighted to be able to reintroduce championship golf to the King’s last year. Its history and tradition are such that it deserves to be associated with the showpiece event on the Tartan Tour.”

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MOLDER BEATS BAIRD AT SIXTH HOLE OF US TOUR PLAY-OFF

FROM THE GOLF.COM WEBSITE
SAN MARTIN, California (AP) — Bryce Molder knows better than most that there's no sure thing in golf.
That wasn't the case when he left Georgia Tech University nearly a decade ago after being an All-American all four years. And it certainly wasn't the case on Sunday at the Frys.com Open in the longest play-off of the year on the US PGA Tour.
Molder captured his first tour victory by making a 6ft birdie putt on the SIXTH playoff hole to outlast Briny Baird.
"It's a little surreal right now," Molder said.
Molder and Baird were stuck in time, going from the 17th hole to the 18th hole in three cycles, matching birdies and pars, both players feeling at various points that they were going to win.
Three times, Molder hit driver on the 284yd 17th hole over the water and had eagle putts for the win, each one a little closer to the hole than the previous one, all of them sliding by the side of the cup.
On the fourth extra hole, Baird felt like a winner when Molder drove into the hazard. Molder was able to get to the front of the green from the junk, while Baird's wedge hit the top of the flag and spun back some 12 feet. He missed.
After nearly two hours of "extra time", Baird blinked and Molder finally made a putt to win.
"You practise and work, and you just hope there's some validating behind it," said Molder, who won in his 132nd start on tour. "I don't feel I deserved to win. But I happened to settle myself down to play."
The play-off was packed with plenty of drama, and so was the rest of the sunny day at CordeValle.
Tiger Woods managed to make news when a fan ran toward the seventh green as he was putting and tossed a hot dog in his direction. The 31-year-old man was arrested and never came close to Woods.
"I guess he wanted to be in the news," Woods said. "And I'm sure he will be."
It was the 17th play-off this year on the US PGA Tour, setting a record dating to the modern era that began in 1970.
Baird looked like a winner when he chipped in from short of the 17th green for eagle in regulation to take a one-shot lead. In the group ahead of him, Molder rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on the 18th to close with a 7-under 64, which got him into the playoff.
Baird, 0 for 348 in his 12 years trying to win on tour, shot a 4-under 67. He twice had birdie putts on the 18th in the playoff to win, missing from 8 feet and 12 feet.
They finished at 17-under 267, and then looked as though they would never finish.
"Obviously, it's more than disappointing right now," Baird said. "I thought I'd be standing where Bryce is. I had my chances. Given a chance, you've got to make putts."
If there was a consolation for Baird, he earned $540,000. Baird, who started his year with conditional status on tour, was at No. 148 on the money list and now is assured of getting his card back for next year.
Bud Cauley, the 21-year-old who turned pro this summer, shot 66 and finished third to earn $340,000, which looks as if it will be enough for him to earn a card next year without having to go through the ordeal of the end-of-season qualifying tournament.
It was the second straight week that a player won for the first time after a long drought. Kevin Na won in Las Vegas after 210 tries. Molder was regarded as a sure thing when he left Georgia Tech, but nothing comes easily on the US PGA Tour. And as he found out in fading sunlight, noting comes easily in a playoff.
Woods - 73-68-68-68 for seven-under 277 - had three rounds in the 60s for the first time in more than a year on the Tour, although he finished 10 shots behind in a tie for 30th. In a year lost mainly to left leg injuries, it was his ninth and final tour start.
Cauley left Alabama this year to turn pro, and it appeared to be a smart decision. He is projected to be the equivalent of 114th on the money list with two tournaments remaining. He at least gets into the McGladrey Classic next week. Cauley would be only the sixth player since 1980 - and the first since Ryan Moore in 2005 - to earn a full PGA Tour card without ever going to Q-school.
Cauley was among five players tied for the lead at some point in the final round. As usual at CordeValle, this tournament was always going to be decided over the final four holes, which offer to eagle possibilities with the par 5 at No. 15 and the tees moved forward on the 17th, making it play 284 yards over the water.
Shane Bertsch surged into the lead alone with an eagle at No. 15 to reach 15 under, only to miss a short putt on the next hole. He failed to make another birdie and tied for fourth with a 64. Ernie Els also tied for fourth. He went bunker-to-bunker on the 15th and had to settle for par and closed with a 68.
Ultimately, the duel came down to Baird and Molder, two players looking for their first US PGA Tour win on a course that tests the nerves because of so many possible swings in momentum.
Molder birdied three of the first four holes on the back nine to take over the lead, and appeared to be playing safe by laying up on the 15th and making par. His 10-foot birdie putt on the 17th spun 270 degrees around the cup.
In the group behind him, Baird reached the 15th green for a two-putt birdie to get within one stroke, then put himself in position for the win with a drive that narrowly cleared the water on the 17th and stayed on the bank.
Trying to get up-and-down to tie for the lead, he chipped in for an eagle - the second straight day he made eagle on that hole - for a one-shot lead. Up ahead, however, Molder recovered by rolling in a 12-foot birdie putt on the last hole to catch him.
England's Paul Casey, the one-time leader, blew his chances with a double bogey 6 at the sixth in his last round, followed by single shots dropped at the long ninth and 13th. He did birdie the fifth and 12th but you cannot make as many mistakes in the final round of a US PGA Tour event and hope to finish higher than T7 on 273.
LEADING FINAL TOTALS
Par 284 (4x71)
Players from US unless stated
267 Bryce Molder 71 67 65 64, Briny Baird 67 69 64 67 (Molder won sudden-death play-off at sixth extra hole).
269 Bud Cauley 69 66 68 66.
270 Shane Bertsch 70 68 68 64, Ernie Els (S Africa) 69 66 68 67.
271 John Rollins 69 70 65 67.
273 David Hearn (Canada) 71 68 69 65, Billy Horschel 72 68 68 65, Spencer Levin 71 67 69 66,Matt McQuillan (Canada) 70 68 68 67, Brendon Steele 67 71 68 67, Josh Tester 71 68 66 68, Adam Hadwin (Canada) 71 68 64 70, Paul Casey (England) 70 64 68 71 (T7).
SELECTED TOTALS
277 Tiger Woods 73 68 68 68 (T30).
282 Louis Oosthuizen (S Africa) 71 70 71 70 (T60).

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