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22:50:00
Charl Schwartzel secured his first victory in the United States since the 2011 Masters by beating Bill Haas in a play-off at the Valspar Championship in Florida on Sunday.
South African Schwartzel came from five shots behind in the final round to card a four-under-par 67 before beating Haas with a tap-in par at the first extra hole.
While the win will boost Schwartzel's confidence going into next month's Masters, world No 1 Jordan Spieth has some work to do as he tunes up for his title defence at Augusta.
South Africa's Charl Schwartzel won the Valspar Championship with a one-stroke play-off victory
South Africa's Charl Schwartzel won the Valspar Championship with a one-stroke play-off victory
Schwartzel celebrates his Valspar Championship victory against overnight leader Bill Haas on Sunday
Schwartzel celebrates his Valspar Championship victory against overnight leader Bill Haas on Sunday
Spieth carded a 73 on Sunday to tie for 18th on even par. He was outplayed by 22-year-old amateur Lee McCoy, who shot 69 to finish fourth.
Schwartzel turned up the heat on the leaders after the turn.
'I just caught lightning on the back nine. I'm very proud of myself,' he told Golf Channel. I was trying to hit mostly middle of the green, keep the ball in play and take the birdies where they came.'
Schwartzel had looked out of touch until he picked up shots on the 13th, 14th and 17th
Schwartzel had looked out of touch until he picked up shots on the 13th, 14th and 17th
Schwartzel won a play off on the 18th with a par four as Haas saw his title hopes slip away with a bogey
Schwartzel won a play off on the 18th with a par four as Haas saw his title hopes slip away with a bogey

Schwartzel and overnight leader Haas (72) finished regulation at seven-under-par, two strokes ahead of Ryan Moore on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor.
Haas then made a mess of the playoff hole, the par-four 18th, hitting a poor shot from a greenside bunker that afforded Schwartzel the luxury of two-putting for victory.
'I probably won't be able to sleep tonight thinking about that one. That was just poor execution,' Haas, a six-times PGA Tour winner, said of his bunker shot.
World No 1 Jordan Spieth carded a 73 on Sunday to tie for 18th on even par  in America
World No 1 Jordan Spieth carded a 73 on Sunday to tie for 18th on even par  in America
Schwartzel's victory was his third in his last six starts after winning twice in European Tour events back home. It was his 15th professional victory worldwide but just his second on the PGA Tour after his Augusta National triumph five years ago.
Schwartzel endured some lean times after winning the Masters and said the green jacket weighed heavily on his shoulders.
'After winning Augusta, you think short term you're going to win a lot, but it was a rough ride,' he said.
'It was tough for a few years. Game felt good enough but it became a mental thing and it's nice to overcome it.'

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22:13:00
Charles Howell III saw a news blurb that the Masters is a month away, and the Augusta native played Thursday like he wants to be there.
In strong gusts that didn't subside until the final few hours of daylight, Howell played bogey-free and picked up two big birdies on his way to a four-under 67 and a share of the lead with Keegan Bradley and Ken Duke in the Valspar Championship.
'I was impressed I got away with no bogeys,' Howell said. 'It was nice to get off to a good start here on a place like this. I'm not sure what the rest of the week will hold, but to actually play a nice round on a tough golf course is good for my confidence.'
Charles Howell III carded a bogey-free opening round of 67 at the Valspar Championship
Charles Howell III carded a bogey-free opening round of 67 at the Valspar Championship
The American is likely to have to win the tournament to qualify for The Masters next month
The American is likely to have to win the tournament to qualify for The Masters next month
Jordan Spieth wasn't sure what to make of his day.
The defending champion had to get up-and-down to save bogey four times on his opening seven holes, and he never recovered. Spieth made only one birdie, played the final 11 holes with 10 pars and a bogey and wound up with a 76. He was nine shots behind and in danger of missing the cut for the second time in three tournaments.
'I got off to a poor start and I was behind the eight ball with gusty winds on a tough golf course,' Spieth said.
Duke also played bogey-free and made birdies on the two par 3s on the back nine that were into the wind and over the water. Bradley was the only player to reach 5 under on a day that featured 25 mph gusts, which seem stronger because the Copperhead course at Innisbrook is demanding in no wind at all.
Howell was in the penultimate group, and the wind laid down for most of the back nine. His play was solid throughout, however, particularly the 4-iron into a left pin that settled a foot from the cup on the par-3 eighth. He picked up another bonus birdie on the par-5 11th with a 45-foot putt.
Ken Duke lines up a putt on the 17th green before taking his share of the first round lead
Ken Duke lines up a putt on the 17th green before taking his share of the first round lead
Howell, perhaps more than any other player from the Augusta area, is linked to the Masters.
He hasn't played the Masters since he tied for 19th in 2012, and Georgia is on his mind as the first major of the year gets closer.
'Always this time of the year, the Masters' carrot looms,' Howell said. 'When April comes around it has a different feel - at least for me - than the other majors. So when the Masters comes around and I'm not in it, then it's a bit of a wake-up call or a kick in the rear to somehow make one last push to try to get in it.'
It's not his desire alone, and Howell realizes that.
He was happy to see Augusta resident Vaughn Taylor qualify by winning at Pebble Beach, and Kevin Kisner (Aiken, South Carolina) qualify through a sensational 2015. He knows that the Masters means as much to Scott Brown (Aiken) as him.
'It's not like it's more special to me than anyone else. Everyone feels that way about it,' Howell said. 'But yeah, it's such a great event. It would be nice to somehow find a way to get there.'
Keegan Bradley, who has missed the cut in four of his five starts this year, also carded a round of 67
Keegan Bradley, who has missed the cut in four of his five starts this year, also carded a round of 67
Howell likely would have to win a tournament because he is No. 128 in the world, though he did consider one alternate route.
'I may send my application in for the Drive, Chip and Putt,' he said with a laugh. 'Maybe I can find a spot in Tampa to try to qualify. Just to get on the grounds with golf clubs in my hands would be great.'
Bradley also needed a round like this. He has missed the cut in four of his five starts this year, and recently switched to a new swing coach. Bradley's last victory was at Firestone in August 2012. He has fallen to No. 88 in the world.
'It's been tough,' Bradley said. 'It's no fun playing poorly out here. I see all my buddies up there doing well and it feels not fun to feel like you're on the outside looking in. So I've been working the hardest in my career.'
Defending champion Jordan Spieth is in danger of missing the cut with an opening round 76
Defending champion Jordan Spieth is in danger of missing the cut with an opening round 76
The world No 1 has struggled with consistency this year ahead of his defence at Augusta
The world No 1 has struggled with consistency this year ahead of his defence at Augusta
It was hard work at Innisbrook, especially in the morning when the wind was at its strongest and only four out of 72 players managed to break 70. Several players took advantage of calmer conditions late in the day.
Chesson Hadley was one shot behind with a 68.
Chez Reavie was bogey-free and joined Charley Hoffman and Greg Yates in the group at 69, while Martin Kaymer and Henrik Stenson were among those at 70.
Only two dozen players broke par, while five players failed to break 80.
'Just keep hanging on,' Howell said. 'This golf course is so difficult and there's trouble everywhere, and I don't expect tomorrow to be a bogey-free day. Pars are good scores.'

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05:42:00
Tiger Woods has revealed being unable to play with his children left him at a low ebb a couple of months ago, but he is much more positive now about his recovery from back surgery.
The 40-year-old cut a downbeat figure at a press conference ahead of December's Hero World Challenge, having undergone a third back operation in the space of 19 months in October.
While Woods, who has not played since the Wyndham Championship in August, reiterated that there is no timetable for his return to competitive golf, he is in better spirits.
Tiger Woods, who posted a video of  himself stepping up his recovery using a video simulator, is 'feeling good'
Tiger Woods, who posted a video of  himself stepping up his recovery using a video simulator, is 'feeling good'

The former world No 1 has not played since last August but is preparing to make his latest comeback
The former world No 1 has not played since last August but is preparing to make his latest comeback
He said on a video broadcast on www.golfchannel.com: 'When I was there in December at the Hero, I wasn't feeling very good and you could see it all over me.
'I couldn't play with my kids; I wasn't able to throw and play catch with my son. What father and son don't actually play catch?But I'm getting there and I'm able to participate more in their lives, I'm able to start doing things more with them and part of that is playing golf and going out there chipping and putting with (son) Charlie and having him beat me. It's been tough at times but it's been a lot of fun.
'One thing I do know is I am progressing, I'm getting better, I'm getting stronger and I have to just take it day by day.
Woods has admitted that playing through the pain barrier earlier in his career has proved costly
Woods has admitted that playing through the pain barrier earlier in his career has proved costly

'I still have to get stronger, I still have to get more flexible. There's still a lot I have to do before I can go out and play.'
Woods admits pushing through the pain barrier earlier in his career may be partially to blame for the injury woes he has suffered in recent years.
He memorably won the last of his 14 major titles at the 2008 US Open despite visibly struggling with an injury which required surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament, forcing him to miss the remainder of that year.
He added: 'This is a different injury than I've had in the past. It's not my knee, it's not where it's nine months and I'm coming back from a total ACL reconstruction, that's normal.
Woods famously won the last of his 14 majors at the 2008 US Open despite suffering from a knee injury
'When dealing with nerves, there is no timetable and everyone heals differently and every nerve is slightly different. That part is the most frustrating part of it, there's no exact timetable.
'I've played through a lot of injuries, I've played through some situations I probably shouldn't have played, won some tournaments I probably shouldn't have won, but I've cost myself other tournaments by pushing through that and I've cost myself months and years because of it.
'But that's what athletes do; we play through pain, we deal with injuries, it's a part of playing sport.'


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