Malaysian Open:Peter Hedblom was all smiles yesterday after ending his 11-year victory drought on the European Tour by capturing the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur.
The 37-year-old had not tasted success on the Tour since capturing the Moroccan Open in 1996 but his four-under-par 68 at Saujana Golf and Country Club's Palm course saw him finish on an eight-under 280, one shot ahead of France's Jean-Francois Lucquin.
"When you haven't won for a long time, you question whether you can win again," said the jovial Swede, who collected a winner's cheque for $215,000 (€165,379).
"I knew I had the game to win but, down the stretch, I usually didn't play well. I've been close many times and in 2003 I was in two play-offs but lost both of them."
Damien McGrane finished six-shots off the pace on 286 after a final round of 73 while Darren Clarke was two-shots further back on 288 after a 71 that included six birdies and four bogeys.
Hedblom, who began the final round on four under, took the outright lead for the first time when he curled in a 25-footer for birdie on the 16th to move to eight under.
He opened up a two-shot cushion by holing a testing eight-footer at the 17th, a putt that would prove crucial as he missed a short par putt at the last hole for only his second bogey of the day.
"To win the tournament is unbelievable. It felt good today and my caddie helped me a lot because we had a nice, calm walk around the golf course," said Hedblom, who carded six birdies in total.
"I didn't feel the pressure until I was going to hole that last putt."
Lucquin was left to lament a missed opportunity for his first European Tour win after ruining an excellent round with a bogey at the last hole.
The 28-year-old Frenchman, whose previous best finish on the Tour was a tie for third at the 2002 Trophee Lancome, moved to eight under on the 17th when he holed his sixth birdie of the round after his approach shot from semi-rough came within inches of the cup.
However, he dropped a shot at the 18th when his 30-foot birdie attempt rolled five feet past and his comeback putt for par lipped out.
"It was a very good round but the course is very difficult," said Lucquin.
"You have to hit it well and hit the ball on the fairway. I just missed the fairway on 18 and I tried to lay up but ended in the rough.
"The first putt was very quick, the second putt was a good putt, but that's golf."
Lucquin carded a closing five-under 67 to finish alone in second place on a seven-under 281, a shot ahead of England's Simon Dyson, who carded a 70, and Spain's Ignacio Garrido, who birdied three of his final six holes to finish with a 69.
"It didn't happen all week but never mind," said disappointed Yorkshireman Dyson.
"I played great but no disrespect to Pete (Hedblom), because I like Pete, but I should have won this by about 10 or 12 (strokes).
"It was just one of those days."
Marcus Higley, who shared the overnight lead with Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez on seven under, carded a 74 to finish in a tie for fifth with fellow Englishman Gary Lockerbie (70) on 283. Despite the disappointing end to his tournament, it was still the Challenge Tour graduate's best ever finish in a European Tour event.
"If someone told me at the start of the week that I would be tied fifth, I guess I would be happy but I'm quite disappointed with the finish," said the 32-year-old from Yeovil.
"I haven't played good the last two days. I scored well yesterday (Saturday) but really struggled today.
"I hit a few good putts which didn't drop but it's a good week at the end of the day."
Overnight co-leader Gonzalez was seven under after 13 holes before self-destructing with double bogeys on the 14th and 15th en route to a four-over 76 as the Argentinian finished in a tie for 11th on three-under 285.
Lee Westwood, the 1997 Malaysian Open champion was two over for the tournament after an eventful 74 that included an eagle, four birdies, six bogeys and a double bogey.
Kyron Sullivan of Wales registered the only hole-in-one of the tournament yesterday, acing the 186-yard second hole with a five iron.
