McDowell: Third Tour win
Final-round leaderboard:
G McDowell -24
JM Singh (Ind) -24
McDowell wins after playoff
P McGinley (Ire) -17
S Katayama (Jpn) -15
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Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell has taken victory in the Ballantine's Championship after beating India's Jeev Milkha Singh in a playoff.
The 28-year-old has thus claimed his third European Tour title and first since winning the 2004 Italia Open - also in a playoff.
Overnight leaders McDowell and Singh carded 24-under-par totals of 264 after both shot six-under-par final rounds of 66 at the Pinx Golf Club on Jeju Island off the Korean peninsula.
The playoff then went to the third hole before an approach from McDowell landed three feet from the pin and he sank the putt for a birdie.
Paul McGinley finished seven shots behind in third place after firing a 69, the Irishman finishing two ahead of Japan's Shingo Katayama, who carded a final round 67.
Denmark's Thomas Bjorn made a four-under 68 to draw level on 14 under with Sweden's Johan Edfors (71) and American Anthony Kim (69).
"This does feel very special - it's pretty sweet to get something this early in 2008," McDowell said later.
Battle
With the gusty winds seen earlier in the week failing to materialise, McDowell and Singh resumed their battle on 18 under.
McDowell could only manage three birdies and a bogey to fall two behind at the turn, with Singh carding five birdies and a bogey in the opening nine.
However, with Singh managing to make a third-straight birdie on the par-five 10th, McDowell reduced his arrears to one after holing a 25-foot putt for eagle.
A birdie three at the 12th then brought McDowell level on 23 under before Singh carded his fourth birdie of the tournament at the par-four 13th to edge ahead once more.
At the par-four 15th, Singh eventually made par after his approach found a green-side sprinkler head, earning a free drop.
McDowell then put his ball within six feet of the pin to birdie and draw level, but fell behind once more on the 16th when Singh sank a birdie four.
However, at the 17th, the 36-year-old's ball was run over by a buggy in the rough near the green; Singh was permitted a free drop but nevertheless could only make a bogey four to once again fall back to all-square.
Both players then took pars at the last and, playing the 18th again in the playoff, Singh and McDowell respectively missed 25-foot and 15-foot birdie putts.
A third attempt ensued, with Singh's approach finding a bunker to the right of the green while McDowell's second landed on the back fringe.
Singh then chipped on to 15 feet and sank the putt for par, with McDowell also making a four after holing out from three feet.
The fourth attempt on 18 - the third in the playoff - saw Singh pushing his drive right but recovering with a wonderful approach to within five feet.
No mistake
McDowell drove straight down the middle, with his second shot finishing up just three feet from the pin.
Singh then pushed his putt to the right - McDowell making no mistake with his own effort.
"I made a bad start today, I was three back after four holes and really had a game on my hands then, but I played the last 13 holes in six under par," McDowell added.
"It was unbelievable. It's a major relief to get it over with - he (Singh) just kept coming.
"Jeev's a fantastic player, a great guy and I'm just glad I was able to hit one close to the flag at the last there, that was sweet."
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