Mark Hensby beats Henrik Stenson in playoff

Australia's Mark Hensby beat Henrik Stenson on the second playoff hole Sunday to win the Scandinavian Masters for his first European Tour victory.

Both players finished regulation play at 22-under 262 on the soggy Kungsangen King's Course after final-round 65s. Marc Cayeux, a European Tour rookie from Zimbabwe, also closed with a 65 and tied for third with Bradley Dredge at 265. Dredge closed with a 70, his worst round.

``The majors are what we want to win but winning this is very special,'' said Hensby, who needed a sponsor's invite to play. ``I wanted to play here last year but couldn't make it but I suppose it's turned out for the best.''

Stenson, a two-time European Tour winner who was runner-up last year, looked to have clinched the title when he eagled the 17th to move two shots clear of Hensby.

Hensby, a PGA Tour regular, needed birdies in the rain on the last two holes to force a playoff. His second, from about eight yards, wasn't easy and he pumped his fist several times after making it.

``When you know you got to make a putt to get into a playoff, it's not easy but you kind of get a free shot at it in a way,'' Hensby said. ``I hit a great putt. You hit it as good as you can and you need the luck. I had a very similar putt in the first time around in the playoff and didn't hit it.''

Stenson was disappointed, but praised Hensby.

``He needed to make a birdie on the last hole to get into the playoff and he did. That's the sign of a great golfer,'' Stenson said.

Both players parred the first playoff hole, with Stenson just missing a birdie putt from about 15 feet that could have won it.

On the second playoff hole, Hensby's approach stopped about 12 feet short, while Stenson's birdie putt was twice as long. The Swede putted aggressively again, going wide and past the hole by about six feet.

Hensby's birdie putt was just short and he tapped in for his par. Needing to avoid a three-putt to force a third playoff hole, Stenson pushed his putt wide.

``I played a good round of golf today and I'm very happy with the way I played,'' Stenson said. ``That's one side of it. The other one is when I end up in a playoff, I'm obviously very disappointed not being able to walk away with the trophy.''

This was the 12th playoff on the European Tour this year, the most ever in a single season.

For the 34-year-old Hensby, it was his fifth pro win. He won his only tournament in the United States last year at the John Deere Classic.

Hensby, who tied for fifth in the Masters and third in the U.S. Open, will now return to the United States for the PGA Championship. Stenson will also be at Baltusrol, N.J., in two weeks.

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