American Jason Dufner could not have wished for a better marriage gift than a maiden PGA Tour success in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Some eight months after the heart break of losing the PGA Championship to Keegan Bradley and Dufner finally broke through to claim his first victory on the PGA Tour in denying Ernie Els a first success in two years.

Jason Dufner birdies the second extra play-off hole six days before his marriage to capture a first PGA Tour title (Photo - www.pgatour.com)

Both Dufner and Els had ended regulation play locked at 19-under par on the TPC Louisiana course in New Orleans.

The triple Major winning Els carded a last day 67 that included a superb seventh hole eagle that momentarily shot the South African into a two shot lead.

The Ohio-born Dufner carded a final day that included birdies at seven, eight and 10 before stalling with eight closing pars.

Each then player pared the first extra hole, the par five 18th before Dufner birdied the second extra hole to claim the $US 1.152m first prize cheque.

For Dufner it was a case of 164th time lucky after previously been runner-up on three occasions.