Kuchar wins The Barclays.

It came as something of a surprise that the tournament actually went to a play-off, bearing in mind the lead held by the Scot at times on the final day. The 29-year-old led going into the fourth round and started confidently with two birdies. However, a double-bogey seven on the third hole saw Laird's fortunes change dramatically. The low point of his round came on the 18^th : with two putts for victory, Laird sent his birdie putt past the hole and then missed coming back. As a result, Kuchar's bogey-free final round ultimately forced the play-off.

Fortune was on the American's side, as he sealed victory on the first extra hole. His approach shot out of the rough on the 18^th came within a whisker of overrunning the green to the right. However, the slope not only slowed the ball down sufficiently, but also sent it curling back towards the hole. The resulting birdie putt from about one metre was a mere formality.

"There's nothing like the feeling of winning a PGA TOUR golf tournament," said Kuchar. "You feel like you are the best player in the world for this week. It's just an amazing feeling to think that 125 of the best players in the world started this week and I came out first."

Kuchar's win at the Ridgewood Country Club was his third top-ten finish in the last three weeks. Already confirmed as a member of the US Ryder Cup team for this October's inter-continental showdown, Kuchar's outstanding form not only makes him the favourite to win the coming Deutsche Bank Championship, but also a hot tip to receive the accolade of Player of the Year.

Tiger Woods, who started The Barclays with an impressive round of 65 on Thursday, eventually had to settle for 12^th place. Rounds of 73 and 72 on Friday and Saturday saw the 14-time Major winner drop back through the field. However, a closing round of 67 will come as some consolation for Woods, who, along with the other 99 players in the top 100 of the FedExCup rankings, has now qualified for at the next play-off tournament in Boston, at which a further 30 pros will be eliminated. The remaining 70 players tee off at the BMW Championship, which will be held from 9^th to 12^th September at the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Illinois.