Thomas survives 'disaster' to win Tournament of Champions playoff

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Justin Thomas hoists the trophy after the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Thomas survived a "disaster" at the 72nd hole before beating Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele in a three-way playoff at the PGA Tour's Sentry Tournament of Champions in windswept Hawaii on Sunday.

Thomas clinched victory with a three-foot birdie at the third extra hole, the par-five 18th, at the Kapalua Plantation course on Maui.

Schauffele was eliminated at the first hole of sudden death while Reed fell two holes later as the 26-year-old Thomas earned his 12th PGA Tour victory.

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Justin Thomas (center) holds the trophy with mother Jani Thomas (left) and father Mike Thomas (right) after the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

He had one hand on 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 find his ball in the waist-high tropical grass.

He made a bogey for a four-under-par 69, while Schauffele had a three-putt par, missing a seven-footer for the win, and carded 70.

They fell into a playoff with Reed, who earlier shot 66, at 14-under 278.

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Justin Thomas hits his chip shot onto the 12th green during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

"For some reason I was supposed to win this week," Thomas said in a greenside interview after sinking his winning putt in semi-darkness.

"I got very, very lucky to even have that putt. I got very fortunate, but I also stuck to my process and tried to stay positive.

"Through 15 holes it was one of the best rounds I've ever played. I was in such control, tee to green, putting beautiful, my irons were awesome and then 18 was a disaster. It worked out so I can't complain."

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Justin Thomas putts on the second hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Reed three-putted the second extra hole from the fringe and then missed an eight-foot birdie at the third playoff hole, his mood hardly helped when a spectator screamed "cheater" as his ball slid by the hole.

Reed has been in the spotlight since being hit with a two-stroke penalty for improving his lie in a waste bunker during last month's Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

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

FILE PHOTO: January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Justin Thomas hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

"I know it, everyone knows it. I should have closed it out and didn't.

"I kind of did everything I was supposed to until the last moment.

"I know I'm good enough to hang with the best. I just need to be a little smarter when the time is right and I would have closed it out."

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Patrick Reed (left) congratulates Justin Thomas (right) after Thomas won on the third playoff during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

FILE PHOTO: January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Xander Schauffele hits his tee shot on the 13th hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Xander Schauffele hits his tee shot on the third hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Patrick Reed hits out of the green side bunker on the 11th hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Patrick Reed hits his tee shot on the 12th hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

January 5, 2020; Maui, Hawaii, USA; Justin Thomas (center) and Xander Schauffele (right) walk on the 12th hole during the final round in the Sentry Tournament of Champions golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports