Golf: Green claims Aussie Masters after playoff

MELBOURNE - Victorian left-hander Richard Green ended a seven-year drought when he clinched the Australian Masters title at Huntingdale Golf Club in a three-way playoff yesterday.

Green, 33, arrowed an approach shot to within 1m of the pin at the first extra hole to claim a birdie three and beat West Australian Greg Chalmers and Victorian David McKenzie.

It was Green's first win since he took out the European Tour's 1997 Dubai Desert Classic in another three-way playoff - from Greg Norman and Ian Woosnam - although it came after a fine season in Europe.

The leading New Zealander was Michael Long, who finished on 11-under 277, six shots outside the playoff, after closing with a 72.

Michael Campbell shot 69 to be one back of Long alongside David Smail, who also closed with 69.

Green finished runner-up in three events in Europe this year - the French, European and KLM Opens - helping to lift him to 17th on the European Tour Order of Merit.

Yesterday's win, his first on his home tour, saw him finish atop the Australasian PGA Tour Order of Merit.

Green fired a final round 67 to add to earlier rounds of 69, 67 and 68 to finish on 17-under-par 271 alongside McKenzie and Chalmers.

Chalmers shot a 65 while McKenzie, the overnight leader, slipped into the play-off when he birdied the final hole.

Victorian Brad Hughes, who dived to 18-under with a birdie at the 15th hole, surrendered the lead and any hope of joining the playoff when he blundered off the 18th tee.

His ball skewed into long grass, forcing him to take a drop, and he ended with a double bogey six.

Chalmers was behind a tree off the tee at the first playoff hole while McKenzie's approach shot was short of the green.

But Green's second shot covered the pin and came to a stop 1m from the hole before he rolled in the birdie putt to earn the A$225,000 ($241,340).

Hughes finished in a tie for fourth with Queenslanders Stephen Bowditch and Brad Kennedy.

Peter Lonard, who was bidding for his fourth successive tournament win, shared eighth.

- AAP