Northern Trust Open: James Hahn wins three-man playoff

James Hahn made a 25-foot birdie putt to defeat Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson on the third playoff hole and win the Northern Trust Open on Sunday at Riviera County Club.

The victory is Hahn’s first on the PGA Tour and earns him a trip to the Masters tournament this spring.

Sergio Garcia bogeyed the final two holes to surrender the lead and send the tournament to the three-man playoff.

After all three players parred No. 18, Casey was eliminated on the second playoff hole, the short par-four 10th, when Hahn and Johnson made birdie putts after driving over the green.

When Hahn then rolled in his long biridie putt at the par-three 14th, the pressure was on Johnson, who had a chance to extend the playoff with a 12-foot birdie putt. When Johnson missed the putt, Hahn had his first PGA Tour victory.

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3:44 p.m.: The Northern Trust Open is headed for a playoff with Dustin Johnson, Paul Casey and James Hahn tied at six-under overall after 72 holes.

Sergio Garcia, a solo leader at various points in the final round at Riviera Country Club, finished with consecutive bogeys to take himself out of contention.

Casey started the day tied for 15th at three under overall but stormed to the top with a round of three-under 68. Johnson and Hahn both shot two-under 69 in their final rounds.

Seven players held, or shared, the final-round lead.

Retief Goosen, the 54-hole leader, started the round with a two-shot lead but faded with a back-nine stretch in which he played holes 13 through 16 in five-over par. He birdied his final two holes to finish four-over 75 on the day.

Vijay Singh, who started the day four shots back, turned 52 on Sunday and was trying to become the second-oldest player to win a PGA event. He shot one-over 72, though, and finished at three under overall.

Defending champion Bubba Watson finished the tournament at two under after a two-over 73 in his final round.

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1:15 p.m.: It’s lucky “7s” at the Northern Trust Open as four players, tied at seven-under overall, head for an exciting back-nine finish at Riviera Country Club.

Vijay Singh, James Hahn, Sergio Garcia and Sang-Moon Bae are the leaders (for the moment).

Retief Goosen, the 54-hole leader, went bogey-double bogey at holes eight and nine to fall one shot off the pace at six-under overall. He is two-over on his Sunday round.

Paul Casey is three under for the day and has also moved to six-under overall.

Dustin Johnson and Jim Furyk, at five-under overall, have already made the turn.

Bubba Watson’s hope of defending his title took a big hit when he made double bogey at the par-four 10th hole. Watson is one-over on his round and three-under overall.

Angel Cabrera, who started hot with three straight birdies, has played four-over the rest of his round. He is now three-under overall.

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12:27 p.m.: Sergio Garcia is making a run at Retief Goosen in the final round of the Northern Trust Open.

Garcia birdied three of his first five holes and caught Goosen at eight-under par.

Garcia, after a par at the first, carded five straight scores of three through the sixth hole before making par-four at No. 7.

Goosen, the 54-hole leader, temporarily regained the lead from Garcia when he birdied the par-four fifth hole to get back to nine-under. However, Goosen bogeyed on the par-four seventh to fall back into a share of the lead.

It’s shaping up to be an exciting back nine.

James Hahn is three-under on his round, through eight holes and seven-under overall.

Vijay Singh, who turned 52 on Sunday, made birdie on the par-four eight to get to six-under overall and three shots back of Goosen.

Defending champion Bubba Watson shot one-under 34 on his the front nine and is five-under overall.