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VERSAILLES, France: Martin Kaymer of Germany won the 4 million euros French Open at Le Golf National on Sunday clinching a dramatic playoff victory over England's Lee Westwood.
They both finished at 13-under par 271, Westwood closing with a 65 and Kaymer with a 68 to set up the decider.
Playing down the spectacular par-four 18th hole, both found deep rough right off the tee.
Kaymer's second from 175 yards out marginally cleared the large lake guarding the green, but Westwood then looked on aghast as he came up agonisingly short with his nine-iron approach.
The Englishman then played a poor pitch from the drop zone, his fourth shot, and Kaymer clinched the biggest win of his career worth 666,000 euros by sinking a 20-footer for par.
Kaymer, who had a disappointing season to date coming into Paris said: "This is obviously very special for me. I had some good chances and I finally won it.
"I've never been up so high. The rankings are very important for me. I have putted superbly this week and holing from all over the place."
Westwood, who was left still seeking his first win since the British Masters in September 2007, was philosophical in defeat.
"Martin's ball has carried the water by a foot and mine must have went in by a foot. That's the chance you take in play-offs," he said.
"You can't judge the week by that and I certainly can't be disappointed by anything after the way I played today.
"If I can carry that on then I will be winning events by a couple of shots and not going to play-offs. It is a good time to start playing well."
Alone in third place at 10-under was England's Ian Poulter who carded a 67, with Anders Hansen of Denmark, who closed with a 66, and Peter Hanson of Sweden, who had a 70, tied for fourth a shot further back
It was the third win of 25-year-old Kaymer's pro career after Abu Dhabi and the BMW International last year as he became the first German since Bernhard Langer 25 years ago to lift the French Open.
With overnight leader Rafa Echenique of Argentina falling away quickly and Poulter's charge from five strokes off the pace coming to grief at the 15th where he found water, it came down to a two-way battle down the back nine between Westwood and Kaymer.
The Englishman's tremendous 65, which included seven birdies in the first 13 holes, set the target of 13-under par for Kaymer who had three holes to play at that stage and was also at 13-under.
The European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007 had real birdie chances at the par-three 16th and par-four 17th, but his putts slid agonisingly past on both occasions.
He then sunk a nervy five-footer for par at the last setting up what would prove to be a triumphant playoff.
The European Tour moves on to the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond next week followed by the British Open, the year's third major, at Turnberry, Scotland starting on July 16. - AFP/de
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