McDowell wins Italian Open play-off

Graeme McDowell held his nerve to prevail at the fourth play-off hole and secure his second European Tour victory in the rain…

Graeme McDowell held his nerve to prevail at the fourth play-off hole and secure his second European Tour victory in the rain-delayed Italian Open in Milan.

The Northern Irishman finally edged out France's Thomas Levet, who paid the price for finding the water with his approach on the 18th.

In the end, McDowell had two putts to secure the €200,000 first prize - and he duly rolled up and knocked in from a matter of inches to claim what he later described as his first "professional" victory.

The 24-year-old from Portrush, who won the Scandinavian Masters back in 2002, said: "This feels so good, I cannot tell you.

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"To win in Scandinavia as quickly as I did (after joining the tour), I still felt I was an amateur.

"Right now I feel like a professional. It feels like my first professional victory."