GOLF/Qatar Masters: Darren Fichardt, persuaded by his wife to compete in the Qatar Masters in Doha, was glad he did after winning the title and £156,054 first prize.

Fichardt beat fellow South African James Kingston at the first hole of a sudden death play-off after they had tied on the 13-under-par mark of 275, two ahead of Irish Ryder Cup hero Paul McGinley.

The 27-year-old from Pretoria was thinking of joining the 50 players who pulled out as war with Iraq looms, but wife Natasha, a trained psychologist who acts as his mental coach, told him: "Don't be lazy and don't be a wimp."

After a gruelling 30-hole final day - Thursday's play was hit by a sandstorm - Fichardt said: "We didn't know quite what was going on here and were quite iffy about it, but I'm really happy we came now."

Kingston was favourite entering the closing stretch, but failed to pick up a shot at either the driveable 306-yard 16th or downwind par five last after Fichardt, playing three groups ahead of him, had set the target with birdies at both.

When they returned to the same hole Kingston found sand with his second and could only par again, whereas Fichardt birdied it for the second time in the space of an hour, just carrying the water and two-putting from 45 feet. It was Fichardt's second European tour win - although both have been far from Europe. The first was in Brazil two years ago. His most worrying moment came as he approached the 14th green and suddenly saw three names at 11 under rather than the two he expected. "But as I got closer I realised that the third name was mine as well, except for the first letter. I was up there twice."

Luton's Phil Golding will not forget the day in a hurry, although he will wish he could. Golding, the man who has made a record 16 trips to the tour qualifying school, was lying joint sixth when he was penalised four strokes for having an extra club in his bag on resuming his third round at 6.30 a.m.

It was the same blunder that Ian Woosnam discovered when leading the British Open two years ago, but the difference this time was that Golding knew he had the 15th club.

The 40-year-old had thought of changing a two-iron to a four-iron overnight, but although he decided against it he had the club in his bag upside down and that was not within the rules. As he had played the ninth and 10th holes - and birdied them both - he was penalised two strokes at each hole. He eventually finished joint 14th, but would have been in a tie for fifth without the mistake.

"I've been up at 4.30am the last four mornings and I think I was brain dead," said Golding. "I just seem to kick myself in the foot. When I was told it was four shots I was gob-smacked." McGinley started the week with pneumonia and thought that the old adage "beware the sick golfer" would come true again.

He commented: "I felt it was destiny for me to win this week, but it wasn't to be. The last four holes of the third round this morning were where I lost it. I played them in one over and it left me too much to do.

"Four behind is too much - you've either got to be lucky or magnificent to win from there in the last round. That's the quality of the guys now. They don't come back to you, you've got to out-run them."

Padraig Harrington birdied seven of his last nine holes for an inward 29 and the lowest round of the week, a seven under par 65.

Having scored a 76 during the morning third round, however, it was still only good enough for a share of 11th place.