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McDowell's Italian playoff triumph


MILAN, Italy (Reuters) -- Former American collegiate champion Graeme McDowell beat Frenchman Thomas Levet in a sudden-death playoff for the Italian Open title on Monday.

Both players had finished a stroke ahead of the field on 19-under-par 197 in the rain-hit event after completing third and final round seven-under-par 65s.

Northern Irishman McDowell, 24, prevailed at the fourth extra hole in Milan to claim his second European Tour title.

The pair were locked together after two pars and a birdie but separated when Levet found the lake with his approach and McDowell hit the green.

Two putts from 15 feet earned McDowell another success to go with the 2002 Scandinavian Masters victory in only his fourth tour event.

When the playoff pair returned to the course to finish off their rounds following the previous day's three-hour weather-disruption, Levet caught up McDowell with birdies at two of his last four holes to the Briton's one birdie in four.

McDowell, who had finished Sunday's play tied on top with another Frenchman, Gregory Havret, left a seven-foot birdie putt in the jaws of the 17th, and Levet scrambled home a 10-footer on the last to save par.

That left them a stroke better than 2001 Italian Open champion Havret.

His second success in three years was the more important of the two, said McDowell.

It confirmed his progression from a successful Walker Cup amateur career and collegiate record-holder, bettering Tiger Woods, when he attended the University of Alabama.

"When I won in Sweden I still felt like an amateur and now I feel like a pro. I've had two years working and grinding because being a pro is a different world," he told reporters in the post-tournament news conference.

"Everything happened too fast when I came on tour and I didn't know how to react to it. This feels five times as good as Sweden."

McDowell has completely changed his lifestyle and he paid tribute to Woods's former coaches Butch Harmon and Harmon's son Claude for honing his swing.

Defeated Levet said: "I tried to hit an easy six-iron into the fourth playoff green but just caught it fat.

"But I was playing so badly before this week I nearly withdrew. Shooting two 65s and finishing 19-under for 54 holes would normally be good enough for a win."

As well as a cheque for $240,000 McDowell had the bonus of his 76 kilos weight in Grana Padano, a type of Parmesan cheese, awarded to the winner.


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