Irish Open: Soren Kjeldsen wins at first play-off hole

Soren Kjeldsen recovered from a final-round collapse at the Irish Open to secure his fourth European Tour success at the first play-off hole.

Dane Kjeldsen (76), England's Eddie Pepperell (69) and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger (73) all finished two under.

The trio then played the par-five 18th at Royal County Down, with Kjeldsen recording a birdie to clinch victory.

Kjeldsen, Pepperell and England's Tyrrell Hatton all secured places at the Open Championship in July.

Hatton finished one shot adrift, alongside Spaniard Rafael Cabrera-Bello, but earned one of the three places on offer for St Andrews because of his superior world ranking.

Kjeldsen had gone six years without a European Tour win, but collected the £294,000 first prize after ultimately keeping his nerve in windy conditions.

A sell-out crowd of 20,000 attended the event for the fourth consecutive day, despite several of the world's leading stars failing to shine, including Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia, who both missed the cut.

Kjeldsen enjoyed a two-shot advantage going into the final round, but saw his lead disappear at the first hole as he recorded a bogey to a birdie by Maximilian Kieffer.

Kieffer moved in front after his playing partner dropped another shot at the second round, but a double bogey six at the third hampered the German's charge.

After 11 holes, Kjeldsen and Cabrera-Bello led on three under, one ahead of Pepperell and Wiesberger, whose challenge was strengthened by back-to-back birdies.

Bogeys at the 14th and 17th saw Kjeldsen post a 76 and drop back. Cabrera-Bello missed out on a place in the play-off with a bogey six at the last.

Pepperell and Andy Sullivan, along with Swede Rikard Karlberg registered 69s.

An impressive 71 saw Darren Clarke finish six over, with fellow Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell and American Ryder Cup player Rickie Fowler seven over.

Irish pair Padraig Harrington and Shane Lowry, Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez were among the players to finish in a tie for 43rd position on 10 over.

Lee Westwood ended up 12 over following a 76.