• Shanghai Masters, Round Four

McIlroy needs playoff to claim £1.25m prize

Rory McIlroy with his Shanghai Masters trophy © Getty Images

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Having led from start to finish, Rory McIlroy ultimately needed a playoff to finally claim the biggest first prize in professional golf at the Shanghai Masters.

The 22-year-old Northern Irishman claimed his second victory of the season - after taking his career to the next level at the US Open earlier in the year - but needed any extra hole to do so at Lake Malaren on Sunday, as he denied Anthony Kim with a par.

The event may not be officially sanctioned by any tour, and thus comes with no world ranking points, but the win nevertheless earned McIlroy a tidy £1.25 million winner's cheque - with Kim picking up a respectable £465,000 for his four days' work.

Both players found sand on the first extra hole, blasting out to set up short attempts for par. But Kim saw the pressure get to him as he missed his three-footer, leaving McIlroy to keep his cool and roll home a two-footer of his own for victory.

"Made hard work of it but delighted to get my 2nd win of the year!" McIlroy noted on Twitter. "AK played great, expecting good things from him next season!"

Earlier in the day it had looked like Kim might be on course for victory, as he reached three-under for his round by the tenth, eroding McIlroy's initial three-shot advantage as the Ulsterman slipped one-over on the day. The American was unable to pick up any further shots on his way home, however, as he carded a round of 69 and set the clubhouse target of 18-under - which McIlroy was able to match thanks to a crucial birdie at the 15th.

Indeed, McIlroy even had the chance to win the event in normal time after setting himself up for an eight-foot birdie opportunity at the last, but he slide the putt agonisingly wide to ensure he would have to go another hole to ensure victory.

American Hunter Mahan and South Korean Seung-yul Noh shared third place five shots back at 13-under, after final rounds of 70 and 73 respectively.

Lee Westwood managed to creep into the top five despite an unremarkable previous three rounds, thanks in part to a hole-in-one at the 12th. That ace helped him on the way to a round of 67 - joint lowest of the day - as he finished 12-under for the tournament, although two late bogeys prevented his round, and finish, being even better.

Ian Poulter was another shot further back at 11-under, while KJ Choi was the other player to card a 67 as he finished alongside Retief Goosen at eight-under. John Daly, Padraig Harrington and YE Yang rounded out the top ten.

All 30 players in the field received appearance money for their attendance, with even last place (Hao Yuan) earning $25,000. The big names will not have to travel far for next week's WGC-HSBC Champions event, as it takes place at nearby Sheshan International.

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