Three-way play-off needed in Portugal

England’s David Howell, Scot Alastair Forsyth and Frenchman Gregory Bourdy went into a play-off for the Portuguese Open today after they tied on 18 under par.

Former Ryder Cup star Howell, who has crashed from the world’s top 10 to 247th in a nightmare slump over the last 18 months, fired a closing 64 to set the target.

Bourdy had been five clear with 17 to play, then fell two behind, but grabbed four back with nine birdies to keep his title hopes alive.

Then Forsyth, a winner in Madeira two weeks ago, birdied the last two holes to catch them, his closing 25-foot putt hanging on the back of the hole before toppling back in.