US Open champion Rory McIlroy defeated Anthony Kim of the United States in a sudden-death playoff Sunday to win the Shanghai Masters. McIlroy gave up an early three-shot lead before rallying from a stroke down on the back nine to finish regulation level with Kim at 18-under 270 and force the playoff. The 22-year-old Northern Irishman had a chance to win the championship with an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th, but missed by inches. Both players drove into the bunker on the first playoff hole, then both made equally well-placed shots out of the sand close to the pin. The American then missed his putt from about 3 feet, while McIlroy sank his 2-footer for the victory. McIlroy the $2 million first-place prize money, the richest in golf, while Kim took home $750,000. Thirty players took part in the invitational, first-year tournament, which isn't sanctioned by a major tour. American Hunter Mahan (70) and South Korea's Noh Seung-yul (73) finished equal third at 13-under. Lee Westwood hit a hole in one on the 12th hole and seven birdies for a 67, finishing in fifth place at 12-under. It was the best round of the week for the second-ranked Englishman, despite the fact he ended with two bogeys. Ian Poulter (72) finished in sixth place at 11-under, while Retief Goosen (68) and K.J. Choi (67) were in equal seventh at 8-under. Bo Van Pelt bags title In Selangor, Malaysia, Bo Van Pelt fired a seven-under 64 to win the Asia Pacific Classic by six strokes over fellow American Jeff Overton Sunday. Van Pelt, the winner of the PGA Tour's 2009 US Bank Championship in Milwaukee, finished with a 23-under 261, bettering the previous tournament record by two strokes. He receives $1.3 million from the $6.1 million purse, the biggest payday of his career. His previous best tournament winnings was $720,000. Van Pelt had a two-stroke lead over Overton going into the final round. Overton shot a 69, but bogeyed the fourth, 12th and 13th holes to wipe out his hopes for a first-ever US PGA Tour victory. The World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions is next week at nearby Sheshan International.
