EUROPEAN TOUR NEWS:GRAEME McDOWELL moved a step closer to fulfilling a long-held ambition - a Ryder Cup place - with yesterday's play-off victory at the Ballantine's Championship.

The 28-year-old from Portrush, climbed to sixth place in the European Ryder Cup rankings with a €333,330 win - defeating India's Jeev Milkha Singh courtesy of a 179-yard seven-iron approach which set up a birdie three at the third extra hole with Paul McGinley finishing alone in third place.

McDowell's triumph - his third European Tour title and a first since the Italia Open in April 2004 - propelled the Ulsterman into a top-60 place in the world rankings and secured his entry for the World Golf Championship's CA Championship in Miami next week.

"I feel like I've arrived now as a three-time winner on the European Tour - this is the year for me," said McDowell, who raised a beaming smile when informed of his rise from 94th in the world.

"I've said it in the past, at The K-Club I realised I should have been on the team - I was good enough to be on the team and I was disappointed not to be there.

"Ryder Cup was a massive goal for me and Europe is the place for me to be right now, trying to get on the team."

McDowell, who has moved to third in the order of merit, hopes victory in the inaugural European Tour event in South Korea can provide the momentum to earn a place in captain Nick Faldo's team for the Ryder Cup in Valhalla in September.

"I promised myself I was going to give myself every opportunity to be on Faldo's team at Valhalla - and I'm off to a flying start," he added.

"It feels pretty pleasant to be sitting here as a winner again. It has been too long," he said.

"Now I feel ready to be a prolific winner - I feel I can win multiple times this year, no problem."

McDowell led by two strokes halfway through the tournament following rounds of 68 and 64 and has lauded the 7,345-yard lay-out.

He flourished in the best of the conditions, carding the lowest round of the tournament in a second round delayed by high winds, and was set to equal the mark until his blip on the final hole in the third round resulted in a 66.

With the gusty winds seen earlier in the week on the exposed Jeju Island, 60 miles off the Korean peninsula, failing to materialise, McDowell and Singh - the overnight leaders on 18 under - resumed their shoot-out for the title.

India's Singh, chasing a third European Tour title at this dual-sanctioned Asian Tour-European Tour event, raced to a two-stroke lead at the turn.

But McDowell carded six birdies in 13 holes to force a play-off as Singh dropped a shot at the penultimate hole after his ball had been run over by a buggy - his second buggy-related problem in two weeks, after a crash left him with concussion and a foot injury.

The duo could not be separated on the opening two play-off holes, Singh holing a 15-footer to par and force a third extra hole.

The Indian then put his approach to within five feet of the flag, piling the pressure on McDowell.

"I saw it most of the way, and he laid the gauntlet down for me. I realised that this was the time and I had to take aim at the flag," added McDowell.

But the 28-year-old was more than up to the challenge, firing a 179-yard seven iron to within three feet of the cup.

Singh's birdie opportunity drifted beyond the right side of the hole, while McDowell's effort went straight into the middle of the hole for a sensational win.

"I had to stand up and hit the shot - and I did," he said.

"It's definitely one of the top five shots I've ever hit - under the gun, in a play-off. Jeev looked like he hit it pretty well, and I just had to take that aim.

"I was a bit pumped up - 179 yards is a lot of seven iron for me - and it was nice not to have too much work to do at the end of it.

"It's a great feeling."