Denmark's Soren Hansen scored his first European Tour win at the Murphy's Irish Open following an exciting sudden death play-off.

The 28-year-old produced a decisive birdie two at the fourth extra hole, the 17th, after he had finished tied on 14-under-par with Niclas Fasth, Darren Fichardt and Richard Bland.

Hansen needed an eagle at the last hole in regulation play just to stay in contention and he managed it after a superb wedge from 160 yards approach to just four-feet.

The Dane's challenge looked to have ended when he drove into the trees at the first extra hole, the 18th, and found water with his second.

But he bravely chipped to within a couple of feet to salvage a par-five.

The title looked to be Fichardt's when the South African was the only player to find the green in two - but he three-putted to throw his rivals a lifeline, missing a putt from three feet as all four players made pars.

Bland bowed out at the second extra hole as he could only manage a par-five and the other three all made birdies. The 30-year-old rookie at least had the consolation of having earned enough money to guarantee a Tour card for next year.

Hansen, Fasth and Fichardt all parred the next, but Hansen clinched the win when the others failed to match his birdie at the fourth extra hole.

"I've been working really hard for this and I'm very proud," said an elated Hansen afterwards.

"I've been playing well for some time, I have some great people helping me and now that I've got the first win, I think there's a lot more to come."

Fichardt had set the target when he came home in 32, with an eagle at the 10th the highlight of his 67.

The 27-year-old South African looked to have blown his chance, though, when he bogeyed the opening two holes - but he did not drop another shot, picking up four birdies.

Bland had stormed into contention with a course record-equalling round of 63 on Saturday.

The 30-year-old rookie, who had never previously finished in the top 10 on the European Tour, birdied three holes in the closing stretch for a 67 to catch Fichardt.

"If someone had said to me I would be in the play-off, I would have snapped their hand off," said Bland.

"Under the situation I was in today, I am very proud of myself the way I finished with three birdies in the last six holes."

Fasth had established a two-shot lead early on with birdies at two of the opening three holes.

However, he trailed Fichardt by two with just two holes to play before he picked up shots at the 17th and 18th.

Padraig Harrington and Eamon Darcy were the leading home players in joint-sixth place on 10-under-par.

Harrington carded a closing 66, but was left to rue two mistakes at an important stage midway through the third round which cost him three shots.

He admitted: "I lost this tournament on two holes yesterday when I lost my patience and got frustrated.

"When you get down on yourself you play badly and I took a double-bogey bogey."

Darcy produced a birdie-birdie finish in his final appearance in the tournament.

He turns 50 in August and will concentrate on the Seniors Tour.

Fellow veteran Des Smyth also finished in style with an eagle for eight-under-par, but Darren Clarke failed to sparkle on the final day and was well down the field on five-under-par after a disappointing 73.

Meanwhile, there was worrying news for Colin Montgomerie.

The Scot added a 70 to his third-round 74 and finished in 23rd place on six-under-par, but was suffering the effects of an ongoing back injury.

Afterwards, he admitted there was "grave doubt" over his participation in the Open at Muirfield as well as the Smurfit European Open and Barclays Scottish Open over the next two weeks.