Gallacher wins maiden title in playoff

Stephen Gallacher beat fellow-Briton Graeme McDowell in a sudden-death playoff for the Dunhill Links Championship title on Sunday, his maiden European Tour victory.

Both players finished on 19-under-par 269 for four rounds, a stroke ahead of the field.

Scotland's Gallacher, nephew of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, clinched the $800,000 first prize with a birdie after McDowell found the Swilken Burn with his approach.

A closing five-under-par 67 by Gallacher set the target, with McDowell joining him for the shootout with a 68, the pair finishing a stroke better than overnight leader Luke Donald and Ian Poulter.

Gallacher's stunning second shot to the first extra hole, the Old Course's first, a wedge to only three feet, put the pressure on McDowell, who had earlier in the year beaten Frenchman Thomas Levet in a playoff.

The Northern Irishman's hopes of a second 2004 win perished in the stream.

It was 29-year-old Gallacher's first win in his eighth year and allowed him to follow at last in the footsteps of his famous uncle, who led Europe to victory in the 1995 Ryder Cup.

Gallacher said: "I've been knocking on the door for so long and to do this at St Andrews is like a dream come true. The wedge shot in the playoff was probably the best shot I played all week."

While uncle Bernard won his first Tour title in his second year in 1969, it has taken his nephew longer to prove the potential shown in a successful amateur career.

After two second places, including in the Seville Open in April, Gallacher was delighted to carry on a family tradition, especially in an era when life on tour is much tougher.

McDowell, consoling himself with a $533,000 second prize, said: "He hit a great shot in, fair play to him. It's great to see a great guy win here at home in Scotland."

Donald, looking for a third win in seven events, began the day two shots ahead of the field and three strokes in front of Gallacher but lost his way after the turn.

He failed to make the playoff after bogeying the Road Hole 17th and missing out on a birdie chance at the last.

World number one Vijay Singh closed with a 70 to finish eight shots off the pace. Ernie Els, ranked two, also shot a 70 to end five off the lead.

American Fred Couples and New Zealander Craig Heatley, a TV entrepreneur, won the pro-am competition by two strokes on 37-under-par.

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