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ARJUN Atwal was delighted to taste victory for the first time in five years after his play-off triumph over defending champion Peter Hedblom at the Maybank Malaysian Open.

Atwal began the day seven shots behind Hedblom but fired a superb eight-under-par 64 in a weather-interrupted final round at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club to draw level with the Swede on 18 under.

The pair halved the first playoff hole with pars but after Hedblom three-putted from 40 feet for bogey at the second extra hole, the par-three 17th, Atwal coolly sank a four-foot par putt to regain the title he first won in 2003.

Atwal raced into contention with eight birdies through his first 15 holes before play was suspended for two hours and 20 minutes in mid-afternoon due to a thunderstorm.

The 34-year-old from Calcutta parred the 16th and 17th before holing a 12-foot birdie putt at the last to take the clubhouse lead.

I relaxed on the first hole and started making birdies,'' Atwal said. By the time I birdied 10 and 11, I looked at the leaderboard and knew I had a chance.'' Hedblom had a chance to win the tournament in regulation but saw his birdie putt at the 18th stop right on the lip.

How it didn't drop, I don't know,'' said Hedblom, who has yet to win a play-off on the European Tour in three attempts.

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.'' Graeme Storm finished in a tie for 12th spot after weekend rounds of 70 and 68. He collected around £16,000.

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.

The Yorkshireman 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 Webber, who shot a 66 in the final round.

Dyson felt that the long stoppage halted his momentum. "I could have won if we had carried on,'' said the 30-year-old.

Darren Clarke moved to within a stroke of the lead with a run of three consecutive birdies at the start of the back nine. But he bogeyed the 15th, 17th and 18th.

9:20am Monday 10th March 2008

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