Hometown delight as Baddeley claims title

Aaron Baddeley delighted his home crowd by winning the MasterCard Masters title after edging out Sweden's Daniel Chopra at the fourth extra play-off hole in Melbourne.

The 26-year-old recorded only his second win on the European Tour and, although both have come in his native Australia, this victory was extra special as it was achieved in his home city on the Huntingdale Golf Club course he learned the game.

Baddeley, whose maiden victory came in the Greg Norman Holden International in Sydney six years ago, escaped from heavy rough on the 18th to par the fourth extra hole.

Chopra had a five-foot putt to continue the sudden death shoot-out, but his effort slid past.

"In the play-off I felt like I was swinging the club really well. I just kept hitting the same shots and felt that I'd wear him down," said Baddeley.

Baddeley and Chopra finished tied on 13 under in the tournament, co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour of Australasia.

Chopra was the overnight leader by one from Baddeley, but the Swede shot a one-under 71 to his rival's 70.

It could have been a three-way tie as Stuart Appleby, another Australian, was leading heading up the last only to double-bogey the 18th for a three-under 69 which dropped him to third on 11 under.

Rory McIlroy had a disappointing one-over-par 73 finish to drop to a share of 15th on six-under-par 282. Damien McGrane shot a final round 72 for a total of 284.

ASIAN TOUR:Paul McGinley finished in a tie for fifth place as Thailand's Chapchai Nirat claimed a two-shot victory in the inaugural Hana Bank Vietnam Masters yesterday after a blistering finish at Hanoi Phoenix Golf Resort.

The Thai hotshot fired a closing five-under-par 67 which included three birdies over his last four holes and finished two strokes ahead of Simon Griffiths of England and compatriot Chawalit Plaphol to claim his second title of the year.

Nirat finished on 12-under-par 276 while McGinley, after rounds of 74, 67, 68 and 72, totalled 281.