India's Arjun Atwal fired a final round 64 before beating overnight leader Peter Hedblom in a play-off to clinch the Maybank Malaysian Open.
Indian wins title for second time
India's Arjun Atwal fired a final round 64 before beating overnight leader Peter Hedblom in a play-off to clinch the Maybank Malaysian Open title on Sunday.
Atwal, who had not played at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club since winning in 2003, came from seven shots back to force extra time before sinking a four-footer for par at the second play-off hole.
Hedblom, the overnight leader on 17 under, was still on that mark through the first 15 holes - but a 10-foot birdie at the 16th put him back into a tie for the lead with Atwal.
The Swede, who shot 65 in the third round, had a chance to win the tournament in regulation but saw his birdie putt at the 18th stop right on the lip as he finished with a one-under 71.
Atwal birdied five of the first seven holes and also picked up four shots coming home - including a crucial birdie at the last - to tie with Hedblom.
The duo parred the 18th in their head-to-head but Atwal got up and down at the par-three 17th while Hedblom three-putted.
"It is an amazing feeling," Atwal said. "To come here and win this title twice now is incredible.
"In the play-off I thought Peter was in trouble off the tee but he played an amazing recovery and that put the pressure on me.
"I didn't think I had a chance starting out and just relaxed from the first hole. It was only on the 11th I felt I had a chance. It is incredible."
Defending champion Hedblom was left to reflect on what might have been after seeing his final birdie attempt teeter on the edge of the cup.
"That putt on the 18th was in but how it didn't drop, I don't know," said Hedblom, who has lost all three play-offs in which he has taken part.
"It just hung on the edge. That was sad. It was a good defence. You are never happy when you lose and I thought I had a good chance to win.
"But I am proud of myself for the way I defended my title because I holed some great putts under pressure."
Britain's Simon Dyson led the tournament for much of the day after birdies at five of his first 12 holes but three-putted for bogey at the 16th to drop back to 17 under.
He had an opportunity to join the play-off but missed his birdie attempt at the final hole for a 69 to finish in a tie for third with Australian Kane Webber.
Ryder Cup star Darren Clarke moved to within a stroke of the lead at one stage with a run of three consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine.
But the Ulsterman bogeyed the 15th after coming up short with his approach, and further dropped shots at the 17th and 18th after the players were forced off for more than two hours by a thunderstorm, saw him finish in a share of 10th place on 14 under with Sweden's Johan Edfors.
