FORT WORTH, Texas – Steve Stricker birdied the second playoff hole to win the 6.2 million-dollar Colonial on, leaving South African Tim Clark still in search of his first USPGA tour title.

Stricker defeated Clark and Steve Marino in the sudden-death playoff to claim his first title of 2009 to go with his runner-up, third-place, fourth-place, sixth- and seventh-place finishes this year.

"I've had a lot of close calls this year and I finally pulled one out," said Stricker, who pocketed 1.116 dollars million for the win. "It is a struggle to win out here. There are a lot of thoughts and emotions going through your mind and it is tough to get a 'W'. I've put in a lot of time, worked hard at it and it paid off."

For Clark it was yet another near miss. His 12.7 million dollars in US earnings are the most of any player without a victory in PGA Tour history.

"I can't take anything positive from today, as I obviously from the last hole of regulation and the playoff have a lot of work to do when it comes to closing out golf tournaments," Clark said.

He squandered a two-shot lead with five holes left, including a bogey on the 72nd hole after Stricker chipped in for birdie at 17.

Clark also missed a putt that would have given him the victory at the first playoff hole.

All three players had birdie opportunities at the first playoff hole. Marino missed from 31 feet, then Stricker missed a 17-footer. Clark had the best chance from seven feet, but pulled it left.

On the second, Stricker stuck his approach within a few feet and Clark almost followed suit.

But Clark's hit the stick and rolled more than 20 feet away. The South African missed his birdie attempt and Stricker made his for a fifth career crown.

Marino was in trouble off the tee at the second playoff hole, the 17th and he ended up two-putting for bogey from 17 feet.

"I felt like I played pretty well all day," said Marino. "I came so close on making some putts and they just weren't going in for me. I'm disappointed, but I feel like I played pretty well and looking forward to next week."

Clark, meanwhile, settled for a seventh career second-place finish, including at this tournament behind Phil Mickelson last year.

"I saw how close Steve hit it (to the flagstick) and I knew I had to do something like that as well," Clark said of the second playoff hole.

"Bad break or not, the tournament should have ended on the first playoff hole," he added. "I didn't make a confident stroke and I pulled it."

Clark, who started the day with a two-stroke lead, carded a 70 to finish regulation on 263. Stricker and Marino both shot 68 to join him in the playoff.

Australian Jason Day carded a 69 to finish alone in fourth on 264, one shot in front of England's Paul Casey.