McGinley wins at fifth playoff hole

Paul McGinley captured the rain-plagued Wales Open on the fifth hole of a playoff Sunday. The tournament was shortened to 36 holes due to bad weather, but with three players knotted at six-under 138 a playoff was inevitable.

After rain moved the start of the tournament to Friday, officials were forced to reduce the event to 54 holes. With more wet weather the final round was cancelled on Sunday with McGinley, Paul Lawrie, and Daren Lee tied atop the leaderboard.

With Lawrie dropping out of the playoff at the second extra hole, McGinley and Lee each missed the green in the decisive fifth trip around the par- three 12th, the only playable hole on the course.

Lee's tee shot bounced off the green into the rough behind the hole while McGinley found the sand for the second time in the playoff. Lee's pitch rolled past the hole onto the fringe leaving him with a 12-foot putt to save par.

From the bunker, McGinley's wedge bounced to within inches of the hole. He tapped in for par to win the tournament after Lee missed his par.

"This is the first playoff I have won after losing two before so obviously I'm thrilled," said McGinley.

McGinley's victory was his third on the European Tour and his first since he won the Oki Pro-Am in 1997. Tenth in the Ryder Cup rankings at the start of this event, McGinley moved to eighth on the European standings with the first-place check for 201,685 euro.

"It was a huge difference between first place and second place in terms of Ryder Cup points. There was a lot of pressure today and that was what drove me on."

Lee, who's second-place finish was the best of his career, will continue the search for his first title.

"It was nice to have the chance to win but that is the way it goes," he said. "You try your best but sometimes it is not your day."

Lee, making the first playoff appearance of his career, and Lawrie reached the green off the tee at the first hole of sudden death. McGinley missed the putting surface but was able to chip to within inches of the hole to save par while the others two-putted for their pars.

The players moved back to the 12th tee for another try. This time McGinley's three-iron left him within five feet of the hole. Lawrie and Lee found the green but were left with long putts.

Lawrie's putt trickled past the hole leaving him with a five-footer for a par. He missed the putt and dropped out of contention after tapping in for bogey.

"It was typical of the whole week the way I finished with three putts," he said. "I played fantastic but putted as bad as you can putt. If I had putted half decent I would have been six or seven shots better."

Lee's birdie putt came within inches of the hole and he tapped in for par.

McGinley had the chance to wrap up the tournament with the relatively short birdie try but his putt ran just right of the hole. He made par to advance to the third playoff hole alongside Lee.

At the third extra hole both players found the sand off the tee and the best they could manage was bogey. The duo went on to match pars in their fourth trip around the 12th hole.

It was the first time in European Tour history that an event shortened to 36 holes had to be decided by a playoff. Five other official events had been shortened to 36 holes but each time there was a player with sole possession of the lead after two rounds.

One of those players was Lawrie, who won his first European Tour title at the abbreviated Open Catalonia in 1996.

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