Glen Day had always been told that he would win when he least expected it. And so it turned out yesterday as he birdied the first extra hole to beat fellow Americans Payne Stewart and Jeff Sluman in a play-off at the $2.5 million MCI Heritage Classic.

It was Day's first victory in 117 starts on the PGA Tour, and just his second as a professional.

Day came from five strokes behind in the final round, shooting a five-under-par 66 in a fluctuating breeze on the Harbour Town course. He posted a 10-under 274 total and watched on television as first Sluman (67) and then Stewart (70) matched it.