Wilson regrets spurned chances
England's Oliver Wilson was left to rue missed chances as South African Anton Haig edged a thrilling three-way play-off to win the Johnnie Walker Classic at the Blue Canyon Country Club in Phuket.
Wilson, who lost a play-off to Paul Casey at the 2006 Volvo China Open, carded a final-round 71 to join Haig and overnight leader Richard Sterne on 275 - 13 under par - to force a thrilling climax.
Haig looked to have slipped out of contention after carding a bogey at the par-four 17th but birdied the last with a six-foot putt to complete a final-round 70 and watched as Wilson and Sterne missed chances on the final green.
The 26-year-old Mansfield-born player and Sterne both missed their third shots in the first play-off hole at the 403-yard par-four 18th - Sterne agonisingly watched as his eight-foot putt caught the edge of the hole but stayed out - to allow Haig to land the £208,330 first prize and claim his first victory on the European Tour.
"I had my chances and didn't take them," said Wilson. "It was easy from the middle of the fairway both in regulation play and in the play-off on the 18th and I didn't get the ball within 20 feet. That was disappointing.
"I hit a great putt in the play-off but probably gave myself too much to do with Richard and Anton well inside me."
Haig, who won the 2006 Asian Masters to clinch his first Asian tour title after leading from start to finish, could not hide his delight after coming top of a star-studded field that included Ryder Cup stars Paul Casey and Colin Montgomerie and former Johnnie Walker Classic winners Adam Scott, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen.
"At the start of the week I didn't think this was actually going to be possible. But after that 64 in my second round, I knew I was hitting the ball good enough to win. The driver went straight for me and the putts fell," he said.
"And that putt on the last, what a feeling that is. If only I could describe it in words. I really played well this week and hopefully there are many more to come."
