Hansen makes his name with dramatic play-off victory

Since Anders Hansen spectacularly won the Volvo PGA Championship, his friend, namesake and compatriot Soren Hansen has finished sixth, second and now first in the Murphy's Irish Open. "Throughout our careers, whenever one has done something the other has usually followed," the 28-year-old Dane said.

Hansen won a dramatic four-hole, four-way play-off at Fota Island to become the 11th first-time winner of the season. A miserable, wet and cold final round developed into a thrilling finish with Hansen holing from 15 feet on the 17th green for the winning birdie that neither Niclas Fasth nor Darren Fichardt could match after the Dane missed the chance of victory at the previous play-off hole, the first, when he failed to convert a similar length putt.

For the first two play-off holes they played the exciting par-five 18th twice. Though only Fichardt found the fairway, rather than the right trees, and although Hansen went into the pond by the green with his second shot, all four players made fives. Fichardt had the chance to win when he had an eagle-putt from 25 feet which he put three and a half feet past only to miss the one back.

The South African and Fasth also had putts for threes moments later but had to settle for fours along with Hansen, but Richard Bland dropped out when he could only make par having driven into the left trees.

Fichardt, who had parred his way home since chipping in for an eagle at the 10th, was the first to reach the 18th in regulation and two-putted from across the green for a birdie to set the target at 14 under par. In the next group, Bland also two-putted for a birdie but Hansen hit a brilliant approach to five feet and holed for an eagle.

Thomas Bjorn could also have joined the play-off but needed to hole a long putt from just off the right side of the green and ended up three-putting to finish fifth. Fasth hit his approach to 18 feet and had appeared to have read the right-to-left break on his eagle attempt perfectly but the ball just curved in front of the hole. He tapped in to make it the first four-way play-off since the British Masters last June.

Colin Montgomerie's back problems may mean he has to return to see his specialist in London. Montgomerie, who will reassess his condition in Dublin today, had intended to stay in Ireland checking up on his course design projects before playing in the European Open at the K Club. His plans were up in the air, however, after he trod awkwardly crossing a stream at the eighth hole on Friday, causing a recurrence of the back injury that has flared up twice already this season.

"From the ninth on Friday I did not hit a shot properly," Monty said. "To be two over par for the last two and a half days was a pretty good effort for the pain I was in. I need to find out if I can play for the next three weeks."

With the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond, an event Montgomerie never likes to miss, and the Open Championship following in quick succession this is the worst possible time for injury to strike the former European No 1 again. Monty has become far too frequent a visitor to his chiropractor and so far it appears no lasting solution has been found.

The Scot was told last month that he could do no long-term danger by continuing to play but the continual use of powerful painkillers is not the answer. Able to commit to shots properly over the weekend, Monty fell out of contention for a title he has won three times, including last year.

Until recently, Montgomerie, who turned 39 a week ago, had enjoyed a remarkably injury-free career and he has not missed a major championship since making his debut at the Masters 10 years ago. His record in the Open is hardly what he would like but Montymania, a less virulent version of Henmania, swept Royal Lytham last year as he led for the first two days. "Of course, I'm worried about the Open," he added. "I'm worried about every shot I hit."

Padraig Harrington closed with a 66 and for some time was the clubhouse leader at 10 under par. It is now 20 years since a home player has won the Irish Open. "I can only take responsibility for about six years of that, not the other 14," said Harrington, who repeated his pre-tournament assertion that there was only one player in the world – there was no need to name him – who could win at will, whether on top of his form or not.

After nine years Murphy's have withdrawn as sponsors of the event and new backers, who may want a Dublin venue, have yet to be announced. "I'll be sorry to see the tournament leave Fota," said Harrington, whose father is from Cork. "It is a super venue, very testing and the atmosphere has been great. The players have loved it."

IRISH OPEN (Fota Island) Leading early final scores (GB or Irl unless stated) 270 D Fichardt (SA) 71 68 64 67; R Bland 69 71 63 67; S Hansen (Den) 69 69 64 68; N Fasth (Swe) 72 67 63 68 (Hansen won play-off on fourth extra hole). 272 T Bjorn (Den) 71 68 63 70. 274 P Harrington 71 68 69 66; E Darcy 69 68 68 69. 275 P O'Malley (Aus) 66 67 73 69; P Casey 69 69 68 69; G Evans 69 70 66 70. 276 P Lawrie 72 69 68 67; D Smyth 67 68 72 69; P Price 71 70 66 69. 277 K Eriksson (Swe) 71 70 71 65; L Westwood 67 68 72 70, P Fowler (Aus) 69 70 68 70. 278 C Montgomerie 67 67 74 70; P Hanson (Swe) 70 70 67 71; M Mackenzie 68 73 66 71; F Funk (US) 66 70 69 73.