EUROPEAN TOUR:LEE WESTWOOD is still searching for his first victory since September 2007, and for the second time it was rising German star Martin Kaymer who denied him yesterday.

Kaymer won the French Open at Le Golf National in Versailles with an 18-foot par putt on the first hole of a play-off after they had tied on 13 under par. They were three clear of Ian Poulter.

Westwood, who was runner-up to Kaymer in Abu Dhabi at the start of last year, has also now lost three play-offs since his last win.

The former European number one had fired a joint best-of-the-day 65 from four behind at the start of the day.

But in the play-off, after both found the right-hand rough after returning to the 18th tee, his nine-iron just failed to carry the lake.

Kaymer had only just made it over, but with Westwood then playing a poor pitch as well from the drop zone and doing no better than a double-bogey six, the 24-year-old, with two putts for it, sank an 18-footer.

His third European Tour title takes him back into the world’s top-20 and earned him €666,660.

Westwood, who took home €444,440, was still pleased with his week’s work.

“A 65 was the score I had in mind,” he said. “I’ve played well this year without finishing anything off and the first three rounds here I struggled.

“Then Billy (caddie Billy Foster) gave me a putting tip and I showed quite a lot of bottle down the stretch.”

He packed seven birdies into his first 13 holes, but a bogey six down the long next was to cost him dear ultimately.

Kaymer said: “This is obviously very special for me. I had some good chances, but finally I won it, so it’s good.”

Westwood knew how different it might have been in the play-off.

“Martin’s ball has carried the water by a foot and mine must have went in by a foot. That’s the chance you take in play-offs.

“You can’t judge the week by that and I certainly can’t be disappointed by anything after the way I played today.

“I was delighted with my putting today. I had 31 putts for the first three rounds and that’s just not good enough, but I putted a lot better today and that’s just what I need to do.

“If I can carry that on then I will be winning events by a couple of shots and not going to play-offs. It is a good time to start playing well.”

Best of the Irish was Gareth Maybin, who closed with a fine 67 for a share of 10th on six under. That was worth €74,000.

Damien McGrane was a shot back after a 68. He earned €55,500.

Colin Montgomerie, second on the course last year, is still searching for his first top-10 finish since then.

That dire run looked set to end when he came back from an opening double bogey with seven birdies and stood nine under – good enough for fourth if he parred in. But he took six on the 399-yard 15th and bogeyed the last two to drop to 13th.

Overnight leader Rafa Echenique of Argentina was still in the hunt until he collapsed to triple-bogey sevens on both the 15th and 18th. That meant a 77 and joint 13th – and also lifted Maybin into the 10th place he needed to play this week’s Scottish Open.