Baddeley outlasts Chopra for Mastercard Masters title

2007-11-25

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MELBOURNE, Australia (Ticker) - Aaron Baddeley won his first Australian Mastercard Masters title after a four-hole playoff thriller against Sweden's Daniel Chopra on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Australian, who won the first of his two Australian Open titles as an 18-year-old amateur, had the opportunity to seal victory with an eight-foot birdie putt when the pair played the par-4 18th for the first time in the playoff.

However, Baddeley missed the chance and had to wait for Chopra's par putt attempt at the fourth extra hole to slide just by the cup to claim the championship.

Victory came, ironically, after hitting one of his worst drives of the tournament into heavy rough beyond the tree line, but he recovered magnificently to par the hole as Chopra fluffed his five-foot putt to save the match.

"In the playoff I felt like I was swinging the club really well," Baddeley said. "I just kept hitting the same shots and felt that I'd wear him down.

"Every playoff hole I had the chance to win and it was Dan who was saving it to keep it going but I really had to scrap to win that final playoff hole. But it really feels great to win at home. It's fantastic."

Both players ended the regulation 72 holes at 13-under-par 275. Baddeley reached the mark after closing with a two-under 70 in the final round while overnight leader Chopra finished with a 71.

Seasoned Australian Stuart Appleby shot a 69 to snatch third place, one shot ahead of veteran Peter O'Malley, who went two better with a 67.

England's Dave Horsey, whose tie for fifth place made him the best of the Englishmen in this European Tour event, shot a 66 - the best round of the day. Rory McIlroy, the 18-year-old phenom from Northern Ireland, finished tied for 15th after a disappointing 73 in his final round.