American Mark Wiebe spoilt Bernhard Langer’s expected Royal Birkdale joy in capturing the Senior Open Championship followng a dramatic sudden-death play-off.#

Play was suspended due to darkness on Sunday night with two holes played in the head-to-head battle before the duo returned to the course early this morning and with Wiebe’s unlikely par four at the fifth extra hole good enough to make him the eighth American winner of the championship.

Despite leading by two shots playing the 18th in regulation play on Sunday, a double bogey from Germany’s Langer at the par four meant that he and Wiebe both finished with a nine under par aggregate of 271 to force extra holes in the fading light.

The pair then took two more trips down 18th in a play-off, twice halving in pars in the near darkness, before play was finally called for the day, meaning that for the first time in its 27 year history The Senior Open would conclude on a Monday.

Mark Wiebe captures 2013 Senior Open Championship. (Photo – www.europeantour.com)

After resuming at 0800, Langer immediately had a chance of securing victory at the third additional hole but saw his 12-foot birdie putt stay out. The fourth hole halved in bogey, Wiebe claimed the senior Claret Jug, and the €240,000 first prize, at the next following a marvellous low draw from the left rough that bounded just onto the putting surface.

As Langer failed to get up and down from short of the greenside traps, two putts saw 55 year old Oregon native Wiebe prevail.

As a result, Wiebe prevailed in the longest play-off in the history of The Senior Open Championship, becoming the eighth American winner of the prestigious trophy.

“I’m speechless,” said Wiebe, a two-time winner on the US PGA Tour. “Shocked, too.  I just planned on Bernie making that putt on the fifth extra hole and I actually was wondering already what hole we were going to go to now. Do we go back to 18 or do I start on a new hole?

“I think it’s always better for both players had there been a birdie to win the playoff instead of a bogey, but right now, I don’t really care.  I’m glad it’s over, and I’m honoured.

“I just was luckier today and last night than Bernie I guess.  I also feel like Bernie has won, what, a couple hundred tournaments.  He’s won so many, I feel like this was my turn.”

Wiebe’s remarkable victory meant disappointment for Langer for a second consecutive year, after the 55 year old had also led by one stroke going into the final round at Turnberry 12 months ago before closing with a 75 to finish tied sixth, coincidentally with Wiebe, behind winner Fred Couples.

It was a dramatic finish to a fine week which saw record crowds flock to Birkdale, as 45,575 people passed through the gates to surpass the previous Senior Open attendance record – set at Royal Troon in 2008 – by more than 4,000.