Chan Shih-chang achieved his dream of winning an Asian Tour event on home soil with a thrilling playoff vicotry over India’s Rashid Khan in the USD1 million Mercuries Taiwan Masters.

Chan beat Khan on the second extra hole at Taiwan Golf and Country Club, coming from three shots back with five to play before making birdie three times on the par-four 18th.

A nine-foot birdie putt saw Chan secure the title, after Khan had missed his attempt from 20 feet. On the first extra hole, Chan holed a 21-footer for birdie before Khan made his from two feet. Chan had forced the play-off when he holed a nine-foot birdie on the 72nd hole as Khan agonisingly missed his birdie chance from six feet.

Both players carded closing 68s to finish on 15-under-par, beating the previous best tournament total set by local player Tsai Chi-huang in 2002 by one shot.

“Really happy to win my first Asian Tour title at home. I have always wanted to do this. To be honest, it’s really pressurising. My friends, sponsors and family were out there supporting me today,” said the 36-year-old Chan, who won US$200,000 and moved into 10th place on the Asian Tour Order of Merit.

“This is my first time playing in the final group in my many years of playing in this tournament. I just keep telling myself to stay calm and stick to my game plan and stay positive out there,” he added.

This is Chan’s fifth victory on the Asian Tour and third in 10 months: he won the Blue Canyon Phuket Championship at the end of November last year, which was the Asian Tour’s first event back after a two-month break caused by the pandemic; and he won in Thailand again this year at the Royal’s Cup in February.

Two-time Asian Tour winner Khan was in search of his first Asian Tour title in eight years. He had a one-shot lead at the turn and after a birdie on 10 and 13 he looked a safe bet for the title.

“It was going really well, just that I knew the last four holes are crucial,” said Khan, who also three-putted the par-five 15th having reached the green in two. 

Bangladesh’s Siddikur Rahman and Sarit Suwannarut from Thailand tied for third, six shots back after both carding 71s.

Malaysia's Nicholas Fung finished T21 on one-under-par after a final round 72. 

Result (Top 10 and ties):
273 - Chan Shih-chang (TPE) 68-68-69-68, Rashid Khan (IND) 67-65-73-68
279 - Siddikur Rahman (BAN) 70-69-69-71, Sarit Suwannarut (THA) 67-73-68-71
281 - Danthai Boonma (THA) 72-66-75-68, Nitithorn Thippong (THA) 67-69-73-72, Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 69-69-71-72
282 - Veer Ahlawat (IND) 69-72-69-72, Yeh Yu-chen (TPE) 70-70-69-73
283 - Shiv Kapur (IND) 68-73-71-71, Suradit Yongcharoenchai (THA) 68-71-72-72, Wang Wei-hsiang (TPE) 66-70-74-73.