RORY McILROY CLAIMED the biggest first prize of his career by beating Anthony Kim to the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters title, but only after a final round wobble.
The 22-year-old lost a three shot lead over the American but triumphed in a play-off, earning himself a cool £1.25million in the process.
It was a poor start for the US Open champion, who bogeyed the first while seeing Kim land a birdie.
McIlroy was a shot behind after dropping another shot on the 11th but drew level with a brilliant birdie on the 15th, and parred the final three holes to finish on an 18-under 270.
The Holywood man had only managed an even-par round of 72 to Kim’s 69, but got the best of his opponent when it mattered. Kim missed a three-foot putt on the first play-off hole and McIlroy’s two-footer for par secured the lucrative purse.
The win – which does not improve McIlroy’s world ranking position or earn him Ryder Cup points because it does not have official tour status – is the young golfer’s second of the year, and fourth in total.
