By Pete Iacobelli
The Associated Press

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. - Davis Love III was searching his closet a few weeks ago when he noticed all the plaid jackets he'd won before at the MCI Heritage.

"I was wondering how much it would take to get a green jacket," said Love, thinking about the Masters.

A week after the Masters, Love won for the fifth time at Harbour Town Golf Links, beating Woody Austin on the fourth hole of a playoff Sunday.

"Obviously, I'm thinking too much about the Masters," said Love, relaxing in his latest checked, tartan coat.

But maybe Love's failure to win at Augusta National is why he's done so well here. Love says he gears his game each season for a run at a green jacket and comes to Harbour Town about as sharp as can be.

There was no denying that - especially at the end.

Love chipped in on the final hole to force a playoff. Then returned to the 18th and its famous lighthouse to win it after hitting the flagstick on his approach.

"This is a great place for him, obviously and great things happen to him here," Austin said.

Love trailed Austin by a stroke on his last hole when he sent his approach to the right of the green. Feeling the confidence that comes with past success here, Love told his brother and caddie, Mark, he would chip it in for birdie.

Moments later, Love rolled in a wedge from 66 feet, 8 inches away to tie for the lead at 13-under 271.

"That's why I was so excited because I finally put my mind to it," said Love, who shot a 67.

Then, after watching Austin miss makable putts for the victory on the second and third extra holes, Love struck a 6-iron shot that bounced off the pin and settled about 3 feet away.

Love lined up the putt, took one practice swing and dropped it in, to the blares of boat horns in Callibogue Sound.

"I hear a lot of jokes around the locker room saying, 'You're automatic here,' or whatever," Love said. "But I feel like I'm comfortable here. Maybe when I get in trouble or when I hit a bad shot, I don't lose my patience quite as fast here."

Love won for the 17th time in his PGA Tour career.

Austin, who had a bogey-free 68, had his chances to win. He missed a 6-foot putt on the second playoff hole and a 3-footer on the third extra hole, both which would have given him the title. But he had no regrets about this week.

"It's been a long time since I felt I was hitting it this good," he said. "It's fun to be back in the game."

Love, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and The Players Championship, joins Tiger Woods and Masters winner Mike Weir as three-time champions on tour this season.

And Love has no equal at Harbour Town. He was already the victory leader with wins in 1987, 1991, 1992 and 1998, and the tournament's leading money-winner, a total that's grew to better than $2.1 million with the latest win. Nine of his last 12 rounds - including all four this year - have been in the 60s.

This week, though, Love was content to remain just behind the leaders. He began the round three shots in back of Stewart Cink and steadily moved up as others fell away, particularly Ernie Els.

Els had four birdies and an eagle on the front nine to grab a lead that looked unbeatable. But he drove it out of bounds on the 16th hole to start his downfall.

Hal Sutton (68), Chris Riley (67), Geoff Ogilvy (67) and David Gossett (66) were a stroke behind Love and Austin. Two strokes back were Steve Flesch (69), Matt Gogel (68) and Tom Pernice Jr. (68).

Els' collapse was quick and unexpected.

The Big Easy lived up to his nickname early on, his simple swing leading to a two-shot lead over several competitors through 15 holes. But he pushed his drive out of bounds on the 16th, the ball bouncing off the cart path and through hundreds of fans.

"I don't want to blame anybody; I hit the shot," said Els, still in disbelief. "I've seen people throw it back."

Els re-teed and made double-bogey 6 to create an eight-way tie for first. He drove over the green on the par-3 17th and made bogey to lose the lead for good. When Els closed with a bogey on the 18th, he had dropped four shots in three holes.

"It's the only shot I kind of missed all day, wasn't it?" Els said of his drive on No. 16. "One bad break, and that's the tournament."

Unless you're Davis Love III.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Bob Gilder won the Emerald Coast Classic in Milton, Fla., with a tournament record 17-under-par 193, finishing four strokes ahead of three others.

Gilder won $217,500 from a purse of $1.45 million. It was his seventh Champions Tour title.

ALGARVE OPEN: Fredrik Jacobson eagled the 17th hole to win at Faro, Portugal, carding an even-par 72 to beat three players by a stroke.