Haig holds nerve to win Johnnie Walker Classic

PHUKET: South Africa's Anton Haig held his nerve to win the Johnnie Walker Classic on Sunday, snatching victory from England's Oliver Wilson and compatriot Richard Sterne in a three-way play-off.   

Tipped by countrymen Retief Goosen and Ernie Els as a star of the future, he upstaged both them with Goosen finishing fourth and Els joint sixth.   

Haig sank a birdie on the 18th to ensure it went to the wire with all three players ending on 13 under.   

The 20-year-old showed why he is rated so highly by holing a six-foot putt for another birdie on the first extra play-off hole to consign Sterne and Wilson to joint second.   

It was his first European Tour victory in 17 attempts and made him 410,000 dollars richer. The title also earned him a European Tour exemption until the end of 2009 and a place in the lucrative HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.   

"The putt on the last, what a feeling. If only I could explain it in words," he said.   

"It's absolutely amazing. At the start of the week I didn't think it was possible but after my 64 in the second round I knew I was hitting the ball good enough to win. I'm going to keep fighting and hopefully one day I'll be as good as Ernie and Retief."   

Sterne, who led after the third round following consecutive rounds of 64, was diplomatic in defeat.   

"It's been a good week and shows that anything can happen in golf," he said.

"It's great for Anton. I'm disappointed but I did my best."   

Goosen had conceded defeat on Saturday when he was five off the lead but made a charge on Sunday with three birdies on the back nine putting him into contention before a bogey on the last ended his hopes. He finished at 10 under.   

Mike Weir, the 2003 US Masters champion playing in Asia for the first time, stroked a round of 67 to end in fifth, four behind Haig.   

World number five Els was stalking the leaders for much of the day, inching his way to within three shots with six to play but a bogey at the 13th and another on the 17th ended his chances. He finished at eight under, alongside Colin Montgomerie, David Frost and India's Ghurav Ghei, the highest placed Asian player.   

Despite missing out on the title, Els saw some plus points in his game.   

"I played well, I had my chances but on the greens this week I just wasn't good," said Els.   

"But off the greens I was as good as I've been all year so there is a lot of good stuff happening with my game. I've just got to make those putts. I had an outside chance still on the back nine."   

Australian world number four Adam Scott finished with a 71 to end a disappointing tournament, although he said he felt his golf was slowly getting back to normal after a five-week break.   

"I played well so I'm happy. That's the first day in three weeks I've felt good on the course. I was hitting a lot of good putts that just didn't go down," he said.   

"I could have birdied the first 13 holes. I was playing well until I reached the hole, then it wouldn't go down."   

Ghei fired a majestic 64, equalling the course record to be the best of the Asians, with Malaysia's Iain Steel (seven under) and Taiwan's Wang Ter-chang (five under) in the top 20.   

"It was unreal. This is one of the biggest events of the year for us and it's special playing a good round and finishing off a leading tournament well," said Ghei.   

"I'm just absolutely delighted."