Aaron Baddeley has given his flagging US PGA Tour career a big boost, finishing tied fourth in the season-opening Safeway Open in Napa Valley, California.
Forced to qualify for the tournament after finishing 132nd on the tour last season, Australian veteran Baddeley finished only one shot out of the playoff which provided Kevin Tway's maiden tour victory.
Baddeley shot a closing three-under 69 as Tway (71), Ryan Moore 67 and overnight leader Brandt Snedeker (74) tied at 14 under.
Tway, the 30-year-old son of Greg Norman's 1986 US PGA Championship nemesis Bob Tway, triumphed from Moore with a 10-foot birdie putt at the third play-off hole after Snedeker was eliminated at the first.
"In the playoff I made three birdies, so that was pretty good," Tway said, after capping off his win on the 10th hole at the Silverado resort.
"It's been a long road but this is why you work hard. Finally got here and it feels amazing."
Baddeley, 37, could not quite add to his four US tour victories but he added $241,280 ($A342,000) to his $US20,543,617 in career earnings while some younger countrymen also impressed.
Making his debut as a PGA Tour member, Sydney's Australian Open champion Cameron Davis tied for 17th after a closing 68, earning a $US80,960 ($A115,000) pay day.
Countryman Brett Drewitt (71) was rewarded with a $US46,800 ($A66,000) prizemoney cheque after putting his honeymoon on hold to get in through qualifying before finishing tied 25th.
Already signed as a drawcard at next month's Australian Open, Snedeker lamented a badly blown chance for a 10th US tour title.
He led by as many as five shots before three straight bogeys from the turn and another at the 17th cruelled his round.
"No one to blame but myself.. I have to find a way to win today," Snedeker tweeted.
"Can't wait to tee it up next week in Malaysia.. Not going to let 9 bad holes make me forget about the other 63..I am going to get that 10th win soon!! Thanks for all the support, don't deserve it after that junk!!"
