August 29 - September 01
Crans-sur-Sierre GC, Crans Montana, Switzerland
€2,500,000
Live leaderboard
Round 1, Round 2, Round 3

Sebastian Soderberg came through a five man play-off featuring World Number Two Rory McIlroy to win his first European Tour title at the Omega European Masters.

“I'm pretty thrilled right now, hasn't really sunk in yet. I felt like I was pressing down my emotions all day just to try to focus. It's unbelievable. I've dreamt of winning on the European Tour, even better doing it this way."

The 28 year old Swede started the day four shots off the lead and remained there at the turn before he made five birdies in a row to surge to the top of the leaderboard in the mountains at Crans-sur-Sierre Golf Club.

“I was more nervous in the beginning than I was towards the back nine. Got on a good run and the ball kept going in. Just playing with Rory, there are so many people around. Playing with a guy like that adds heat to it right away. "

A three putt on the 17th then dropped him into the play-off at 14 under par with playing partners McIlroy and Italy's Lorenzo Gagli, where they were joined by Argentinian Andres Romero and Kalle Samooja of Finland as the Omega European Masters went to extra holes for the sixth time in seven years.

Soderberg holed a ten footer for birdie on the first trip back up the last and, with McIlroy and Samooja missing from close range after Gagli bogied, the trophy was his.

“I proved to myself that I can play out here. I didn't really know that I was ready to win, I had a terrible start to the season and I felt like I was just trying to make my way into the top 110 and keep my card for next year. It's just a surreal way to do it.

“I was just trying to take one shot at a time and my brother (Jesper) told me most likely my card was secured when we'd finished, which was nice. I had nothing to lose at all and it's going to change a lot going forward.”

It was a thrilling finish to an enthralling day as all the main contenders came to life in the closing stages to take the event to a record equalling 13th play-off in its history.

Victory for Soderberg comes in his 50th European Tour event after he secured a top five on home soil at last week's Scandinavian Invitation, and takes him inside the top 50 on the Race to Dubai.

“Too many mistakes," said McIlroy. "I think I made 13 bogeys during the week. I made enough birdies, but I just didn't have it over the weekend. I obviously made a good run over the back nine today. It's been another solid week, coming back across the Atlantic. Now I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks off. 

“This is my seventh event in eight weeks, I've played a lot of golf. Playing so much, little mental errors can creep in here and there. The sloppy finish yesterday probably cost me, but I fought back today and did my best. It just wasn't meant to be.

“I'll put the clubs away for a few days, rest, recover and reflect on what has been a pretty good season so far, and try to get myself back up for (the BMW PGA Championship at) Wentworth.”