Both men parred the first play-off hole, the 18th, but when Beljan’s par put on the 18th went by, Merrick could celebrate his first Tour title.

Merrick, who grew up in Long beach and attended UCLA, said: “I can’t even put it into words right now.

“Growing up here as a kid, I just wanted to play this tournament. This is unbelievable.”

It was nevertheless a good week for Beljan, the man who suffered an anxiety attack on the way to winning his first Tour title the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic late last year.

Beljan has taken to travelling to tournaments in a luxury motor home with his family in a bid to prevent a repeat attack, and it appears to be working.

The big loser of the day was Haas, who started the day with a three-stroke lead before five bogeys in six holes from the seventh dropped him out of contention.

Haas had not dropped a shot since Thursday, but he bogeyed the second today - albeit in between two birdies – and there was worse to come as his game disintegrated around the turn.

Haas found form again to birdie the 17th and 18th but that was only good enough for a share third, alongside Sweden’s Fredrik Jacobson and Charl Schwartzel of South Africa.

Both Jacobson and Schwartzel could have been part of the play-off but for missed putts on the 18th.

Behind them were Josh Teater and Webb Simpson on nine under, with Bae Sang-moon and Hunter Mahan a further shot back.

On an eventful final day, world number three Luke Donald was another man who was kicking himself after he could only mange a four-over 75, which included a triple bogey at the 12th, dropping him back from fifth to a share of 16th on four under.

A shot back was his fellow Englishman Lee Westwood, who was level for his final round, with compatriots Brian Davis and Greg Owen two under.