Fichardt takes wife’s advice and picks up £156,000 windfall

DARREN FICHARDT, persuaded by his wife to compete in the Qatar Masters in Doha, was glad he did after winning the title and £156,054 first prize.

Fichardt beat fellow South African James Kingston at the first hole of a sudden death play-off after they had tied on the 13 under par mark of 275, two ahead of Irish Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley. After a gruelling 30-hole final day - Thursday's play was hit by a sandstorm - Fichardt said: "We didn't know quite what was going on here and were quite iffy about it, but I'm really happy we came now."

Kingston was favourite entering the closing stretch, but failed to pick up a shot at either the driveable 306-yard 16th or downwind par five last after Fichardt, playing three groups ahead of him, had set the target with birdies at both.

When they returned to the same hole Kingston found sand with his second and could only par again, whereas Fichardt birdied it for the second time in the space of an hour, just carrying the water and two-putting from 45 feet. McGinley started the week with pneumonia and thought that the old adage "beware the sick golfer" would come true again.

He commented: "I felt it was destiny for me to win this week, but it wasn't to be. The last four holes of the third round this morning were where I lost it. I played them in one over and it left me too much to do.

"Four behind is too much you've either got to be lucky or magnificent to win from there in the last round. That's the quality of the guys now. They don't come back to you, you've got to out-run them."

The event completed 72 holes only after the controversial decision after the delayed second round to cut to the top 50 players and ties rather than the leading 70 and ties.

It cost 35 players their place in the £936,000 tournament and many were furious as they packed their bags a day earlier than they had expected.

Woosnam, former winners Tony Johnstone and Rolf Muntz and Volvo PGA champion Anders Hansen were among those affected.

The anger was that, while tour regulations state it can happen any week, they expected to be alerted to the possibility.

Pádraig Harrington left Doha with a smile on his face despite failing to stamp himself on the Masters.

Harrington birdied seven of his last nine holes for an inward 29 and the lowest round of the week, a seven under par 65. Having scored a 76 during the morning third round, however, it was still only good enough for a share of 11th place for the world number 10 the only player in the world's top 60 taking part.