England's Simon Dyson dominated a three-way playoff after four rounds of golf at the Dutch Open on Sunday to win his first title since winning in 2006.

Dyson began the day six shots off the pace of overnight leader Peter Hedblom of Sweden but clawed his way back in a bogey-less final round 63 to finish level with Hedblom and Dubliner Peter Lawrie.

The Englishman then sealed victory when he sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the sudden death play-off.

Hedblom began the day with a two-stroke lead after registering the lowest three-round total, of 54, on the European Tour this season on Saturday.

However, the 39-year-old Swede suffered a mediocre final day, carding two bogeys but making only three birdies for a 69 to finish with Dyson and Lawrie on a four-round total of 265.

Dyson, a 31-year-old from York, played a near perfect round, making four birdies on the outward nine and a further three on the way back for a final round 63.

Ahead of finishing tied for the lead, Dyson admitted he had been given a hint of what was to come.

"When I birdied the seventh and ninth I thought back to doing the same when I won (in 2006)," said Dyson. "Then I birdied the 12th like I did then."

When it came to the playoff Hedblom went over the green and bogeyed, while Lawrie was studying a five-foot par putt when Dyson made his 18-foot putt for birdie, repeating his feat of 2006 when he beat Australian Richard Green to victory.

Defending champion Darren Clarke, whose wife Heather lost her battle with breast cancer on the day Dyson last won in 2006, just missed out on contending the playoff before finishing joint fifth with Welshman Jamie Donaldson.

AFP

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