Richie Ramsay became the first European in nine years to triumph in the South African Open Championship when a birdie at the first extra hole gained him victory over India's Shiv Kapur.

The Scot used his TaylorMade R9 golf driver to come from five shots off the pace in the closing 18 holes, shooting a seven-under-par 65 at Pearl Valley Golf Estates.

This was the lowest round of the day and enabled him to collect his first career European Tour victory, a feat that looked unlikely after he shot a 75 in the second round to sit well down the leaderboard.

Ramsay said: "I'm in a flood of emotions and holding back the tears. As a kid, I always wanted to win a tour event and I'm delighted it's happened here because I love coming to South Africa.

"It was a day for fearless golf. This week things just went for me. But I am a lot more positive now - I go out believing and thinking I can win."

Ramsay's victory, during which he failed to drop a shot in the final round, also makes him the first Scottish golfer to emerge victorious with his golf irons on the European Tour since Alistair Forsyth landed the Madeira Island Open 19 months ago.

Kapur had also made solid strides up the leaderboard in his closing round after beginning the day in a share of sixth spot.

He was left with a 12-foot effort with his golf putter on the final green to seal victory, but this effort failed to drop and he entered a play-off.

However, he only managed to par the first extra hole, wasting the chance to claim a second victory since turning professional, following his success on the Asian Tour in 2005.

Despite firing a birdie at the last, Denmark's Anders Hansen, who hits the course with Titleist Pro V1x golf balls, finished one shot shy of the play-off to take third.

Italy's Edoardo Molinari banked his spot in the US Masters next year as he shared fourth place with Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed.

This was enough to lift him into the top 50 in the world rankings, guaranteeing him an entry into the major, which begins at Augusta on April 8th.

South African players had won the last eight renewals of the tournament, with Richard Sterne the most recent victor with his TaylorMade golf clubs a year ago.

James Kingston was in a share of third place in the field heading into the final round but faded and the country's highest-placed finisher proved to be little-known Darren Fichardt, who shot a 66 to finish in a tie for sixth.

Overnight leader Pablo Martin, who also won the recent Alfred Dunhill Championship, was another to disappoint over the closing 18 holes and he joined Fichardt after a round of 73.

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