Luke List has had a long wait for his first PGA Tour win and that was extended after a two-hour wait before triumphing in a playoff over Will Zalatoris at the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday.

The 37-year-old American, enjoyed an excellent final round six-under-66, highlighted by four consecutive birdies from the third to the sixth holes, to storm up the leaderboard at Torrey Pines.

But List, in his 206th career start, waited almost two hours after entering the clubhouse as the overnight leaders completed their rounds before facing Zalatoris, who also finished 15-under overall, in an 18th hole playoff.

In fading light, the pair both landed their tee shots within inches of each other in a bunker, with List's third shot placed close to the hole, enabling him to tap in to card a birdie.

Zalatoris pushed his longer birdie putt, which was near-identical to his 18th hole putt for victory that he missed, wide left again to settle the playoff in List's favour.

California-born 25-year-old Zalatoris may have clinched victory on the 18th as List patiently waited and practiced elsewhere, but was agonizingly short and slightly wide after a late fade on his putt.

He carded a final round one-under-71, grouped alongside Jason Day and Aaron Rai, with world number one Jon Rahm also making a late charge.

Day shot into a share of the lead after landing an eagle on the 14th hole but had to settle for joint third alongside Rahm and Cameron Tringale at 14-under-par overall.

The Australian, who had not won a PGA Tour title in 1,364 days, finished with back-to-back bogeys to slip from contention.

Rahm rolled in a clutch 26-foot putt to birdie the 17th to be one shot off the pace but only managed par on the last hole.

Joaquin Niemann, Justin Rose, Pat Perez, Sungjae Im and Rai were next, finishing 13-under overall.