The duo had been locked at nine under before Herbert birdied the second play-off hole to complete the biggest moment of his career. He had been six shots off the lead at the start of the day before a four-under 68 sent him soaring up the leaderboard.

The double Australia Day success arrived after Queenslander Cameron Smith won the Sony Open in Hawaii to start his year on the PGA Tour in brilliant style after short break on home soil over Christmas.

For Leishman, victory would ensure he rises eight spots in the world to No. 20 and see his career earnings swell to some $US28.9 million. With the game's elite all looking towards Augusta, it's a very good time to be finding some form.

"I didn't hit it that well off the tee but I putted as good as I ever have today and you're not going to win tour events if you don't putt well," said Leishman, who had twice finished as the runner-up at Torrey Pines.

But it was a day tinged with deep sadness for many players and Woods, in particular, who finished at ninth (nine under) before finding out about the death of Bryant, who was one of nine people killed in a helicopter crash in Los Angeles. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna was among the fatalities.

Woods seemed puzzled by shouts from the galleries of 'Do it for Mamba' and was only told of the tragic news after his round by caddy Joe LaCava. Woods could be heard replying, "Excuse me?"

Woods and Bryant would emerge as two global sporting giants in the 1990s, with Woods winning his first PGA title in 1996 just a month before a teenaged Bryant made his debut for the Lakers. Woods was already a Lakers fan and had supported the team from the moment he began following NBA basketball.

Given their profile, it was inevitable they crossed paths on occasions but for Woods, his mental study of the famously intense and driven Bryant would paint a picture of a model competitor.

"We really connected on more the mental side of it ... how much it takes to be prepared," Woods said. "For me, I don't have to react like he does in my sport, we can take our time.

"But you've still got to pay attention to the details and that's what he did better than probably any other player in NBA history..

"That's where he and I really connected because we're very similar. He came in the league and I turned pro right around the same time and we had our 20-year run together. It's shocking.

"It's unbelievable, the reality that he's no longer here."

- with AP