GLENEAGLES, August 28, 2011 (AFP) - Denmark's Thomas Bjorn won the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles after an epic five-way play-off on Sunday.
In cold and windy conditions, the 40-year-old - winner of the Qatar Masters earlier this season - secured the title and the 266,628-euros winner's cheque on the fifth play-off hole as South African George Coetzee failed to match his birdie.
The Austrian Bernd Wiesberger, Spaniard Pablo Larrazabal and England's Mark Foster were eliminated earlier in the play-off as they came unstuck on the par-5 18th.
The title went into a play-off after the five were on 277 11-under par after the final round.
"When you set off on a play-off with five guys you are almost too relaxed because it takes a lot for things to go your way," said Bjorn.
"As they dropped out one by one it became harder but I am very proud of the way I played at the end."
After a poor tee shot on the fifth play-off hole, Bjorn set himelf up for victory with a superb chip from off the green that landed just three feet from the hole.
With the 25-year-old Coetzee only able to make par, the Dane sank his birdie putt to secure his first win since turning 40 in July.
"That last shot was very special," he said. "My wedges have been good all week but that seven iron was special.
"It is my second win this year and I am thrilled with that. Hopefully there will be a few more to come."
Bjorn began the day in a group of five who were three shots behind the overnight leaders Foster and Ignacio Garrido on the course which will host the 2014 Ryder Cup.
As Garrido faded, Foster eagled the second and appeared to be heading for his first title since winning the Dunhill championship back in 2003 when he teed off at the 18th needing par for victory.
His drive went into the trees, however, and although he got on to the green in four, he was left with a 20-foot putt for par. It stopped short but he parred the hole to join the play-off.
Bjorn had briefly joined him at the top of the leaderboard when he birdied the 16th but the Dane immediately bogied the next hole and had to settle for a 69 and a place in the play-off.
They were joined by Coetzee, whose closing 67 showed a great recovery from his opening round 77, Larrazabal and Wiesberger, both of whom carded 69s.
Wiesberger perished on the first play-off hole when he sent his drive into the rough on the left of the fairway and, it appeared, down a rabbit hole.
Next time around it was the turn of the Spaniard to drop out, sliding his par putt just past the hole.
Coetzee, Foster and Bjorn all birdied third time around before some wayward driving left Foster with too much to do on the fourth.
Leading and selected final round scores in the European Tour Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles on Sunday (GBR/IRL unless stated, par 72):
277 - Mark Foster 66-71-68-72, George Coetzee (RSA) 77-66-67-67, Thomas Bjorn (DEN) 68-69-71-69, Pablo Larrazabal (ESP) 70-68-70-69, Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 69-71-68-69
(Bjorn won after the fifth play-off hole)
278 - Stephen Gallacher 74-68-67-69, Joel Sjoholm (SWE) 70-71-69-68
279 - Victor Dubuisson 69-70-73-67, Kenneth Ferrie 68-69-73-69, Ignacio Garrido (ESP) 67-69-69-74
281 - Gary Boyd 70-71-72-68, Jaco van Zyl 68-73-72-68, Marc Warren 70-69-70-72
282 - Chris Wood 69-73-70-70, Carlos Del Moral (ESP) 72-70-69-71, Noh Seung-yul (KOR) 72-71-68-71, Simon Dyson 70-71-69-72, Magnus A Carlsson (SWE) 67-72-70-73, Peter Lawrie 68-69-71-74
Selected:
284 - Edoardo Molinari (ITA) 74-70-69-71, 286 - Raphael Jacquelin (FRA) 69-70-76-71, 288 - Thongchai Jaidee (THA) 71-69-76-72, 292 - Paul Lawrie 72-72-73-75, 294 - Colin Montgomerie 70-73-77-74