European Tour news:England's Oliver Wilson was left to rue missed chances as South African Anton Haig edged a thrilling three-way play-off to win the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket yesterday.
Wilson, who lost a play-off to Paul Casey at the 2006 Volvo China Open, carded a final-round 71 to join Haig and overnight leader Richard Sterne on 275 - 13 under par - to force a thrilling climax.
Haig looked to have slipped out of contention after carding a bogey at the par-four 17th but birdied the last with a six-foot putt to complete a final-round 70 and he watched as Wilson and Sterne missed chances to secure victory on the final green.
The 26-year-old Mansfield-born player and Sterne both missed birdie opportunities in the first play-off hole at the 403-yard par-four 18th - Sterne agonisingly watched as his eight-foot putt caught the edge of the hole but stayed out - to allow Haig to land the €310,801 first prize and claim his first victory on the European Tour.
"I had my chances and didn't take them," said Wilson. "It was easy from the middle of the fairway both in regulation play and in the play-off on the 18th and I didn't get the ball within 20 feet. That was disappointing.
"I hit a great putt in the play-off but probably gave myself too much to do with Richard and Anton well inside me."
Haig, who won the 2006 Asian Masters to clinch his first Asian tour title after leading from start to finish, could not hide his delight after coming top of a star-studded field that included Ryder Cup stars Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie and former Johnnie Walker Classic winners Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
"At the start of the week I didn't think this was actually going to be possible. But after that 64 in my second round, I knew I was hitting the ball good enough to win. The driver went straight for me today and the putts fell," he said.
"And that putt on the last, what a feeling that is. If only I could describe it in words. I really played well this week and hopefully there are many more to come. On the play-off hole I hit a good wedge to about 10 feet and made that. What a feeling to birdie one of the toughest holes out there."
Sterne, who admitted earlier in the week he expected to miss the cut following an opening round 75, carded a final round 72 after shooting back-to-back 64s.
"I played my best but it didn't go the way I wanted to go. It's great for Anton. I'm disappointed but I did my best. It's been a good week," said the South African.
Goosen (70) finished fourth and Canadian Mike Weir took fifth spot following his final round of 67. Els and Montgomerie were among a quartet who finished tied for sixth at eight under, while England's Simon Hurd was a further two shots back and Graeme Storm, who carded a two-over-par final round, finished tied for 16th at five under. "A top-20 finish is always good, but I thought I had a chance at the top 10," said Hurd.
Scotland's Stephen Gallacher, who shot to the top of the leaderboard following a round of 66 in his first outing, finished on four under par alongside Australian Scott and India's Jeev Milkha Singh, who was earlier in the week named the Johnnie Walker Classic Asian Player of the Year for 2006.
Damien McGrane carded a final round of 73 for a three-under total of 285 while Graeme McDowell, who had started so brightly with an opening 67, shot 77 for a final total of 290.
