March 21-24
Saujana Golf and Country Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
$3,000,000
Co-sanction: Asian Tour
Live leaderboard
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Scott Hend claimed his third European Tour title in dramatic fashion in Kuala Lumpur as he beat Nacho Elvira on the first play-off hole at the weather affected Maybank Championship.

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The 45-year-old Australian began the fourth round three shots behind overnight leader Elvira of Spain but went in front courtesy of five birdies on the front nine and remained ahead by one stroke as the final group arrived at the 18th tee.

“I had to get off to a fast start as I was three shots behind. That's all there was to it. I was fortunate enough to turn in five under and on the back nine I shot event par. Can't ask for much more on a Sunday when the golf course is playing quite tricky.

“I'm a grinder and a fighter. So is my caddie Tony. We both have the same mental attitude. It doesn't matter how old we are, we work hard at what we do. Just takes a bit of luck to win. Obviously I had a bit of luck on the play-off hole. If you don't have any luck you won't win."

But there was late drama as the heavens opened over Saujana Golf and Country Club, with the first clap of thunder heard as Elvira made his approach shot into the 18th green. When play was suspended at 2.50 pm local time, Elvira was left with a 30 foot putt to keep his hopes alive, and one hour and forty minutes later he coolly drained his birdie effort to join Hend on 15 under par and force a play-off.

“What a putt by Nacho. If I was to go out there and hit that putt you would say you would hole it one in ten times. The spirit we played in today was great too. He's such a nice guy. We were both egging each other on to play well. That's the way we want to play golf."

Hend got a lucky break when his tee shot at the first extra hole hit the base of a tree and landed on the fairway, while Elvira's ball went straight into a fairway bunker. The Australian hit another tree with his second shot but holed his birdie putt from three feet to clinch the title and banish memories of previous play-off defeats at the Omega European Masters in both 2016 and 2017.

The victory is Hend's first on the European Tour since the 2016 True Thailand Classic Presented by Chang and takes him into the top ten of the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex. It's also a tenth win on the Asian Tour, and his first since he topped the Order of Merit in 2016.

Elvira's runner-up finish was his second in as many starts after he ended the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in a tie for second in his last outing.

“I tried to give it all on the play-off hole. I just missed my driver a little bit and gave myself a little chance to make birdie, but I'm happy.

“It was thunder in a bad moment, but the gods did give me one back with that putt. I think I played great all week, solid, consistent, I'm very happy with that. I'm happy that my game has finally showed a little bit of consistency.

“Lifting trophies is the point, that's what we try to do every week. Hopefully it works out soon.”

Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand was another two shots back in third place after mixing five birdies with two bogeys in his closing round of 69, with American Johannes Veerman in fourth at 12 under par.

“Mostly it was good, I just struggled in the middle of the round today," said Janewattananond. "To birdie the last hole of a tournament is always nice.

“I'm happy with the tournament overall. A top three is something special in a European Tour event. I made some good putts at the start. It's a good result, I'm really happy with it.”

Oliver Fisher of England and Germany's Max Kieffer were a further shot back on 11 under par, while four-time Major Champion Ernie Els secured his 300th career top ten finish after closing with a round of 71 to sit amongst a group of six players in a tie for seventh at 10 under par.