Back from the dead

Recently exonerated from vehicular homicide charges from a road accident in Orlando last year, Atwal today played like a man possessed and birdied half the holes in a sizzling round of 64 to join Hedblom at 18-under 270 to force a playoff.

There on the second extra hole, Hedblom three-putted for a bogey, while Atwal held his nerve and sank a four-footer on the 17th to clinch it.

This was Atwal8217;s third European Tour title and the Indian pocketed Euro 219,483 for his exploits. Apart from his two Malaysian Open titles, Atwal had also won the 2002 Caltex Singapore Masters.

Though this is Atwal8217;s first title in five years, Atwal was playing on the more competitive US PGA Tour in the interim.

Among other Indians in the fray, Jyoti Randhawa 273 carded 71 for his share of the sixth place, while Gaurav Ghei 280 signed off with 70 to be tied 37th. SSP Chowrasia 282 needed a solid round for a top 10 finish but the Kolkata pro stuttered to a final round of 74, his worst card of the week, to finish tied 46th.

Atwal, however, had no such worry. After rounds of 70, 68 and 68, he seemed to have reserved his best for the final day and the lone dropped shot on the third hole was the only blot in an otherwise perfect card of the Indian who hardly put a foot wrong today.

Atwal got off to a birdie-birdie start and though the third hole bogey snapped the streak, he looked simply irresistible.

Birdie binge

A spectacular birdie binge 8212; he blasted nine of them in his round 8212; catapulted Atwal to the top of the leaderboard and the lightning and storm that hit the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club resulting in a two-and-half hours8217; delay could not snap his rhythm.

8220;It is an amazing feeling,8221; a beaming Atwal said after the round. 8220;I don8217;t know how to put it into words. To come here and win this title twice now is incredible. In the play-off I thought Peter was in trouble off the tee but he played an amazing recovery and that put the pressure on me,8221; he said.

8220;I didn8217;t think I had a chance starting out and just relaxed from the first hole. It was only on the 11th that I felt I had a chance. It is incredible,8221; he said.

8220;It was a good defence,8221; said Hedblom. 8220;You are never happy when you lose and I thought I had a good chance to win. I am proud of myself.8221;

Briton Simon Dyson carded a three-under 69 on the final day to share third place with Australian Kane Webber 65 on 271, with Italian Francesco Molinari alone at 272 after his 65.

Leaderboard

270 Arjun Atwal India

270 Peter Hedblom Sweden

271 Simon Dyson Britain, Kane Webber Australia

272 Francesco Molinari Italy

273 David Lynn Britain, Jyoti Randhawa India, Charl Schwartzel South Africa, Daniel Vancsik Argentina

274 Darren Clarke Britain, Johan Edfors Sweden

275 Scott Barr Australia, Marcus Fraser Australia, Keith Horne South Africa, Carlos Rodiles Spain, Graeme Storm Britain

won in play-off