Darren Clarke saw his chance of a first tournament victory in months slip agonisingly away as he lost to Japan's Hirofumi Miyase on the second play-off hole in the Taiheiyo Masters in Gotemba, Japan, yesterday. Miyase, starting the day two strokes off the pace, birdied the final hole to force a three-way play-off against compatriot Ryoken Kawagishi and Clarke.
Kawagishi, the overnight leader, bowed out on the first play-off hole and Clarke then missed a par putt on the second hole to surrender victory to Miyase.
"I am very, very happy to win such a good tournament full of big names, and I am more than happy because I had lost twice in a play-off before. I really wanted to win this time," said Miyase taking his second career title.
Earlier, Miyase shot a sizzling three-under-par 69 without a bogey, while Clarke fired a 66 and Kawagishi 71 to be tied at a four-round total of 14-under-par 274.
Three-time defending champion Lee Westwood could do no better than a 70 to share sixth place with Japan's Taichi Teshima at 277.
Leading final scores (Jap unless stated):
274 - H Miyase 66 70 69 69), D Clarke (N Ire) 66 71 71 66, R Kawagishi 67 70 66 71 (Miyase won a play-off at the second extra hole). 275 - B Jobe (US) 69 74 67 65. 276 - N Ozaki 66 70 72 68. 277 - T Teshima 69 72 68 68, L Westwood (Eng) 67 70 70 70. 278 - K Hosokawa 72 68 70 68, F Minoza (Phil) 68 72 68 70. 279 - M Kawamura 70 72 68 69, H Meshiai 66 72 69 72.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, Michael Campbell won the Johnnie Walker Classic, holding off Tiger Woods to end the American's four-tournament winning streak.
The Kiwi, who has fought his way back from injury, held off a strong challenge from Geoff Ogilvy and Ernie Els in Ta Shee.
The 30-year-old Campbell closed with a two-under-par 70 for a four-round total of 12 under-par 276.
Australian Ogilvy was a shot behind and South African Ernie Els, the champion in 1997 and runner-up last year, finished two off the lead in third position.
Woods finished seven under for the tournament in sixth after a 71, though the 23-year-old's final day charge failed to materialise after he took two sevens on the front nine.
Campbell, who started the day leading by three from Ogilvy, was tied with his Australian playing partner and Els, playing two groups ahead, with four holes to play.
The New Zealander made a crucial 12-foot birdie putt on the par-four 15th to pull ahead, and after Ogilvy failed to get up and down for a par on the 17th, Campbell had a two-stroke cushion playing the 18th.
"It's unbelievable - it has been a long frustrating last four years," he said.
"Finally I have got the monkey off my back. After such a great year in 1995 when I was so near so many times. This is great, it's a great feeling."
