Atzenbrugg, Austria – Englishman Kenneth Ferrie birdied the first playoff hole Sunday to defeat Simon Wakefield and win the Austrian GolfOpen.
The victory was his third on the European Tour.
Both players shot rounds of five-under 67 on Sunday, but Wakefield birdied the last hole to get his 67. Ferrie missed a chance to win outright, then holed a six-footer to save par and match Wakefield at 12-under 276.
On the first playoff hole, the par-four 18th at Diamond Country Club, Wakefield found the short grass off the tee, but Ferrie pulled his drive into the left rough.
Ferrie hit a spectacular approach seven feet left of the flagstick. Wakefield's second sailed over the green and the advantage belonged to Ferrie. Wakefield hit a poor chip to eight feet, but needed to make that putt to put some pressure on Ferrie.
Wakefield's par putt lipped out and Ferrie could two-putt for the win. He took care of things immediately when his birdie putt fell into the cup for his first tour win since the 2005 European Open.
"I feel amazing right now," said Ferrie. "I haven't won for six years and I was wondering if it was ever going to happen in the end. To get it done was fantastic.
"It means the world to me. I have been working very hard and doing all the right things, but I just haven't had the results to back it up. So to win here, under the pressure of a playoff, is amazing and it makes all the hard work worthwhile."
For Wakefield, who did win 2010 Q School, it was a missed chance to get that maiden European Tour title.
"It's difficult," said Wakefield, who knocked a five-iron to two feet to set up his closing birdie in regulation. "I'm happy with how the week's gone."
Wakefield is still winless on the European Tour.
Joost Luiten was tied for the lead until a three-putt bogey at the 72nd hole. He finished with a four-under 68 on Sunday and missed the playoff by a single stroke at minus-11.
Third-round leader Thomas Norret was done in on Sunday by a double-bogey at the par-five 13th. He only managed an even-par 72 and took fourth at nine- under 279.
Cesar Monasterio (66), Bernd Wiesberger (68) and Victor Dubuisson (70) tied for fifth at minus-eight.
Magnus A. Carlsson (68) and Christian Nilsson (70) shared eighth at seven- under 281.
Tom Lewis, who made his pro debut this week after low amateur honors at the Open Championship, fired a four-under 68 on Sunday and vaulted into a share of 10th at minus-six.
NOTES: Ferrie spent portions of the last few seasons on the PGA Tour...Wakefield's second-place check gets him into the top 115 on the Race to Dubai...Next week, Martin Kaymer will defend his title at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland.