Hedblom ends 11-year win drought in Malaysia

Peter Hedblom was all smiles yesterday after ending his 11-year victory drought on the European Tour by capturing the Maybank Malaysian Open. The 37-year-old had not tasted success on the Tour since capturing the Moroccan Open in 1996, but his four-under-par 68 at Saujana Golf and Country Club's Palm course saw him finish on an eight-under 280, one shot ahead of France's Jean-François Lucquin.

"When you haven't won for a long time, you question whether you can win again," said the Swede. "I knew I had the game to win. I've been close many times and in 2003 I was in two play-offs but lost them both.

"It's just a matter of grinding it out and today, I just tried to play my own game and tried not to watch the leaderboard."

Hedblom, who began the final round on four under, took the outright lead for the first time when he curled in a 25-foot put for birdie on the 16th.

He opened up a two-shot cushion by holing a testing eight-footer at the 17th, a putt that proved crucial as he bogeyed the 18th.

* Former tennis pro Scott Draper's decision not to take on a full-time coaching position with Lleyton Hewitt has paid dividends after he won the New South Wales PGA championship by one stroke yesterday - his first professional tournament.