Rory McIlroy triumphed in a playoff to claim the £1.25million richest first prize in golf at the Shanghai Masters on Sunday.
McIlroy - Shanghai surprise.
The 22-year-old, playing in his first event since switching management teams, beat American Anthony Kim after the latter came back from a three-shot deficit during a final-round shootout between the two, forcing the event into extra time.
Starting the day with a three-shot cushion, McIlroy bogeyed the first while Kim birdied it, resulting in a two-shot swing right from the get go and setting up an intriguing final day in the process.
Kim managed to seize a one-shot lead after the turn thanks to another bogey from McIlroy at the 11th, but the US Open champion drew level once again with a birdie at the long 15th.
The duo then parred their way to the clubhouse from there, each finishing on 18 under 270 for the tournament - McIlroy after a 72 and Kim thanks to a 69 - setting up the extra holes.
The playoff didn't last long, however, with an error from Kim on the first hole deciding the winner almost immediately. McIlroy sank a two-footer for par, while the American could not do the same from three feet.
South Korean Noh Seung-yul and American Hunter Mahan were five strokes back in joint third, while England's world number two Lee Westwood bogeyed the last two holes to finish a shot behind them after he had holed-in-one at the 12th.
golf365.com