Worldwide Golf

MIGUEL Angel Jimenez defeated Lee Westwood on the third play-off hole to win the Omega Dubai Desert Classic, his ninth victory since turning 40 in 2004.

The pair began the final day tied with Thongchai Jaidee and Alvaro Quiros and both shot a level par 72 in the final round .

Jaidee dropped three early shots and Quiros squandered the lead after three late bogeys, while Westwood birdied the 72nd to tie with Jimenez at 11-under.

Westwood had two makeable chances to win in the play-off before Jimenez triumphed with a par at the third extra hole.

Westwood looked favourite at the first play-off hole – the par-5 18^th - after clearing the water in two, while Jimenez, having laid up short, pitched agonisingly close to the lake.

However, after chipping onto the green the Englishman missed a 10-footer for birdie and Jimenez got up-and-down to take the pair down the final hole again.

From the tee Jimenez found a difficult lie in the rough and after laying up he pitched through the green into the bunker. Westwood was again over the water in two in a good lie just off the green.

From their positions both played indifferent shots with Westwood leaving his chip 12 feet short and Jimenez blasting out way beyond the hole. However, Jimenez rolled in his tough par putt to heap the pressure on Westwood who again missed his chance to win outright.

With the Dubai sun fading the pair made their way to the ninth and both players missed the green with their approach shots. Their chips were both good and after the match referee was called in to see whose ball was closest, Westwood stepped up and missed his par putt. Jimenez then rolled putt in for his first win since the 2008 BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth.

"All week I've been playing strong with a strong mind and with good support from my caddie,” said Jimenez. "I have been coming to Dubai for many years and had a few chances to win and now I have it, I feel very pleased and very happy. Like a good wine, with age, I get better and better.”

The lead had changed hands several times around the turn with Quiros in prime position before three-putting three greens in succession to drop out of contention.

Jaidee who was playing alongside Jimenez, had a five footer for birdie on the final green to join the play-off on 11-under but missed.