Britain’s Luke Donald sank a six-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole to win a four-man playoff at the US PGA Tour’s Transitions Championship and reclaim golf’s world No.1 ranking.

Donald had surrendered the top spot to Rory McIlroy just two weeks ago but ended the Northern Ireland prodigy’s reign by capturing the $US990,000 crown in the $US5.5 million event, the Englishman’s final tuneup for next month’s Masters.

He shot a closing five-under-par 66 to finish regulation play tied at 13-under 271 with Americans Jim Furyk (69) and Robert Garrigus (64) and South Korea’s Bae Sang-Moon (68).