Lee Westwood enhanced his reputation as a playoff expert by winning the US$200,000 Macau Open at the second extra hole on Sunday.

The Briton parred the par-five 18th to beat American Andrew Pitts, who had forced the additional holes with a birdie at the last in regulation play.

Westwood had a final round one-under-par 70 for a nine-under total of 275 and Pitts matched him with a closing 69.

It was world number seven Westwood's 14th career victory, his sixth in Asia and his sixth in a playoff. His only playoff defeat was in last year's Malaysian Open against American Ed Fryatt.

Pitts, whose only claim to fame is winning the Bermuda Open three times in succession from 1996, matched Westwood's birdie from 18 foot at the first playoff hole but three-putted the second time around from 40 foot for a bogey and defeat.

The American said it was his only three putt of the tournament.

"I do all right in playoffs," said Westwood. ``I have been in seven and won six but this was the hardest to win. He rolled in putts all day -- I think he only had 21.

"I was only one shot ahead coming down the last and anything can happen. I thought if I made five I had a good chance of winning the tournament. He made four and all credit to him.

Pitts, paired with Westwood and a stroke behind at the start of play, levelled with a birdie at the 12th and went ahead with another birdie at the next hole. He fell behind by one when he bogeyed the 16th and 17th to Westwood's pars but in a dramatic finale hit the flag with his approach at the 18th and tapped in for birdie.

"It's nice to know you can go head to head with one of the best players in the world and compete with him," said Pitts, who credited laser surgery on his eyes last month for his fine putting.

"I have experience in playoffs, winning two and losing three, but I hit a poor shot at the second playoff hole and paid for it."

Britain's Darren Clarke incurred a two-stroke penalty for missing his starting time by three minutes after his alarm failed to rouse him.

He shot a 73 to finish joint 39th on six-over 290.

Defending champion Satoshi Oide of Japan closed with a 70 to tie for third place with South Africa's James Kingston (67).