Publications
Partners
Versailles - Spain's Miguel Angel Jimenez held his nerve to win the French Open here on Sunday after a three-way play-off with compatriot Alejandro Canizares and Italian Francesco Molinari.
After completing their fourth and final rounds at Le Golf National with an 11-under-par total of 277, the trio headed back to the tricky par-four 18th for the play-off.
Jimenez struck his tee shot down the middle while Molinari found a bunker and Canizares sent his left into the water. After taking a drop, Canizares hit the water a second time which effectively ended his challenge.
Molinari putted for a one-over-par bogey, leaving the 46-year-old Jimenez to sink his par putt from five metres.
It was the Spainard's 17th European Tour win and 10th since he reached the age of 40.
It was, though, a massive reprieve for Jimenez, who beat Lee Westwood in a play-off to land the Dubai Desert Classic in February, as he had earlier blown a two-shot lead going into the last on his fourth round.
He had been in stunning form after the turn, sinking five birdies to head for the 18th tee at 13-under with a two-stroke lead over Canizares and Molinari.
A double-bogey, however, set up the play-off.
Canizares, who had repaired the damage of two double-bogeys at the end of his third round on Saturday with two birdies in the first three holes, then had a chance to snatch it but his birdie putt died just short of the hole.
Molinari gave himself a chance of winning with a round of 67 which included five birdies and an eagle at the par-four 10th.
Overnight leader Martin Kaymer, the defending champion, was also in the mix until a double-bogey at the 15th. He followed that with another double bogey at the tricky 18th to finish seven-under for the tournament in a five-way tie for sixth.
Leading final-round scores:
Miguel Angel Jimenez wins play-off at the first extra hole
273
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 71 69 66 67
Francesco Molinari (Italy) 69 69 68 67
Alejandro Canizares (Spain) 66 66 73 68
274
Rory McIlroy (Britain) 68 71 69 66
276
Danny Willett (Britain) 72 67 69 68
277
Oliver Wilson (Britain) 68 71 71 67
Mark Foster (Britain) 76 63 70 68
Peter Hanson (Sweden) 68 69 70 70
Gregory Bourdy (France) 68 69 70 70
Martin Kaymer (Germany) 66 67 71 73
278
Michael Hoey (Britain) 69 74 69 66
Graeme Storm (Britain) 70 67 71 70
Damien McGrane (Ireland) 68 71 67 72
Luke Donald (Britain) 70 69 67 72
Steve Webster (Britain) 69 66 70 73
279
Jeev Milkha Singh (India) 70 73 68 68
Robert-Jan Derksen (Netherlands) 63 71 72 73
280
Marcel Siem (Germany) 67 75 70 68
Raphael Jacquelin (France) 73 67 72 68
Thomas Bjorn (Denmark) 72 70 70 68
Andrew Dodt (Australia) 68 75 68 69
Lee Westwood (Britain) 70 69 71 70
Ian Poulter (Britain) 72 67 71 70
Kenneth Ferrie (Britain) 73 70 65 72
Richard Bland (Britain) 73 68 67 72
