LA QUINTA, Calif. — William McGirt birdied four of his last nine holes on Sunday to close with a 3-under-par 69 and finish in a tie for 56th place in the Humana Classic.

That was good enough for a $12,432 check in the Fairmont native’s first start of the season on the PGA Tour.

McGirt, with rounds of 68, 66, 70 and 69, finished at 15-under-par for the tournament, which was played over three courses. His last round was marred by a double-bogey 7 on No. 18.

“I played pretty well this week,” McGirt said on his Facebook page. “Twenty-one birdies wasn’t enough. Not bad for the first week out and having no expectations. Something to build on. Hopefully, I can put in some good practice time and be ready for Phoenix.”

McGirt is skipping this week’s Farmers Insurance Open and will play next at the Waste Management Open in Phoenix that begins on Jan. 31.

Brian Gay won the Humana Classic and its $1,008,000 first place prize money by finishing at 25 under par in the tournament and then winning a three-person playoff with Charles Howell and David Lingmerth by birdieing both playoff holes. It was Gay’s fourth win on the PGA Tour.