Justin Thomas survived a nail-biting three-way playoff to win the PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions in windswept Hawaii on Sunday. The ace golfer clinched the coveted title after outclassing Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele during the all-American playoff at the Kapalua Plantation course on Maui.

Thomas accomplished a clinical win with a three-foot birdie at the third extra hole, the par-five 18th. Earlier, Schauffele bowed out at the first hole of sudden death while Reed got eliminated two holes later as Thomas pocketed his 12th PGA Tour trophy. Thanks to his emphatic win in Hawai, Thomas has become the only player currently under the age of 30 with the most number of wins on the Tour.

Thomas almost secured the trophy with a one-shot lead playing the final hole of regulation but hooked his three-wood second shot into a penalty area and could not spot the ball in the waist-high tropical grass.

He had a bogey for a four-under-par 69. Meanwhile, Schauffele had a three-putt par and a birdie would have won it for him after a round of 70. However, both the golfers fell into a playoff with Reed, who earlier shot 66, at 14-under 278.

Reed, who was already in the clubhouse after a round of 66, suddenly found himself heading to the playoff with his two fellow Americans at 14-under-par 278.

However, it was Thomas who prevailed over his compatriots in the playoff and had the last laugh. 

Schauffele, who had been on the verge of successfully defending his title, said: "I should have won it."