Vijay Singh wins Malaysian Open

US Masters winner Vijay Singh of Fiji completed a triumphant 'homecoming' when he won the US $910,000 Carlsberg Malaysian Open after beating Irishman Padraig Harrington in the third play-off hole at Saujana Golf and Country Club on Sunday.

The towering Fijian, who spent numerous years in Malaysia as a rookie professional and won his first international title here in 1984, put on a masterful performance on a marathon day in front of his adoring fans. Singh delivered the knock-out blow against Harrington at the 360-yard par four 17th hole with a birdie after driving the green.

Ironically, it was the same hole that Singh's title aspirations were nearly dashed when his tee shot struck a spectator's foot, then the buggy cart and flew out of oounds for an eventual double bogey six. At that stage, Singh, ranked eighth in the world, was two shots ahead of a jam-packed leaderboard.

Singh fired a closing four-under-par 68 for a four-day total of 14-under-par 274 in the event which is co-sanctioned by the European and Davidoff Tours. Singh, who also won the Malaysian Open in 1992, picked up a cheque worth US $151,660.

Singh said: "I feel pretty good. I was disappointed with the way I finished (with the double bogey at the 17th) but I'm glad the result turned out well. I must commiserate with Padraig -- he played really well. It’s been a hard week (with the weather interruptions) and I really wanted to play well here. I feel satisfied coming over here and playing the way I thought would help me win. "The crowds should be behind me and it was nice to have a lot of old friends, some whom I’ve not seen in 15 years, out here. I hope to return next year."

Charlie Wi of Korea was the best Asian player in the field at tied third place with Davidoff Tour regular Ahmad Dan Bateman of the US on 12-under 276. Taiwanese veteran Wang Ter-chang enjoyed a memorable week with an equal sixth place finish on 279 while Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee came in tied seventh, a further shot behind.

Singapore's Mardan Mamat was lower down the field at tied 12th position after a 71 left him at seven-under 281. Thailand’s Thammanoon Sriroj was another stroke back at equal 14th spot.

Harrington didn't have the luck of the Irish at the third play-off hole. After Singh lagged an eagle 60-foot putt for his birdie, Harrington stared at a six-footer to send the Carlsberg Malaysian Open into a fourth extra hole. Agonisingly, the putt slid past to ensure another frustrating close call in the Malaysian Open as Harrington was also second last year and fourth the previous year.

"Normally, I live by my putting," rued Harrington, who was playing in his first strokeplay event of the season. "I had three three putts, with two in the afternoon. If you had offered me second place coming out here, I would have been thrilled. I’m disappointed though s I had the chance (to win)."

On a day when the weather held up for the first time this week, the large crowds were treated to a spectacular show at Saujana’s Cobra Course. At one stage, four players – Singh, Harrington, Wi and Bateman - were tied for the lead on the back stretch on 12-under.

Singh had to return early this morning to complete eight holes of his third round and when he teed up for his final 18 holes, he trailed Harrington, who featured in the 1999 Ryder Cup for Europe, by two strokes. The Fijian, whose first name means victory in Hindi, streaked ahead with three birdies at the 12th, 13th and 16th before finding trouble at 17th.

"My wife (Malaysian Ardena Seth) was giving me a hard time for hitting it OB at 17th as we talked about it the other day and she said "surely you’re not going for it, and I said why not?" I knew she was cursing at me when I was coming up at 18th," said Singh.

The lead then swapped hands when Harrington birdied the par three 16th hole but he gave it straight back at the next hole when missed the green and failed to save par. Singh rolled in a six-footer at the last hole, which sparked a roar from the galleries, to stand at 14-under-par for the tournament. Harrington had a 15-footer for victory at the 18th but left the putt agonisingly short.

Both players parred the first extra hole at the 18th, which Singh lipped out for birdie, and matched birdies with near-perfect approach shots. They went back to the 17th tee and Singh brilliantly drove the green to eventually seal a popular win.

"I had high expectations coming here. It was nice to finish the way I did. After a bogey at the sixth, I said to my caddy (Malaysian N. Suhendran) 'Let’s just enjoy the golf, and let it happen.' ."

My best shot was the last putt on the regulation play," said Singh.

Leading final scores

274: Vijay Singh (Fij) (68 70 68 68), Padraig Harrington (Ire) (70 66 68 70) (Singh wins at third play-off hole)

276: Ahmad Bateman (Usa) (72 69 68 67), Charlie Wi (Kor) (70 70 67 69)

278: Soren Hansen (Den) (69 70 70 69)

279: Wang Ter-Chang (Twn) (69 71 68 71)

280: Thongchai Jaidee (Tha) (75 67 68 70), Desvonde Botes (Rsa) (72 67 71 70), Michael Campbell (Nzl) (69 67 71 73), Carl Pettersson (Swe) (72 69 67 72), Maarten Lafeber (Hol) (67 72 69 72)

281: Olle Karlsson (Swe) (73 65 72 71), Mardan Mamat (Sin) (70 70 70 71)

282: Thammanoon Sriroj (Tha) (71 67 72 72), Jean Hugo (Rsa) (75 69 73 65), Soren Kjeldsen (Den) (70 69 72 71), John Daly (Usa) (72 72 69 69)

283: Patrik Sjoland (Swe) (75 65 68 75), Jose Manuel Lara (Esp) (75 68 71 69), Ignacio Garrido (Esp) (72 69 73 69), Justin Hobday (Rsa) (69 69 71 74),

Yang Yong-Eun (Kor) (72 70 67 74), Henrik Nystrom (Swe) (71 71 70 71), Robert Coles (Eng) (68 73 71 71)