SAN ROQUE, Spain -- Niclas Fasth made a 6-foot birdie putt on the fourth hole of a sudden-death playoff to beat John Bickerton for the Spanish Open title on Sunday.

Fasth almost lost the title in regulation. He led by two strokes with two holes to play but bogeyed the 17th and 18th for a 69 to drop into the playoff against Bickerton, who shot a course record-equaling 63, 9-under par.

The pair finished on 270, 18-under par.

Fasth, the 34-year-old Swede who played at the Ryder Cup in 2002, won twice last year, both times in playoffs.

"So at least I know how to hang in there. I was grinding it out today and I just kept going," Fasth said.

Six players shared third place on 271, a stroke off the winning total. They were third-round leader David Griffiths of England, who shot 72, Gary Orr, Mattias Eliasson and Philip Archer, who fired 67s, Jose Manuel Lara (68) and Thomas Bjorn (69).

Bjorn shot birdies on five of the first six holes, but double-bogeyed the short eighth and made two bogeys and two birdies the rest of the way.

Colin Montgomerie never threatened after a bogey at the first and, despite five birdies, a double bogey at the last, where he hit his second shot into the greenside lake, left him with a 71 and a share of 28th place.

Bickerton made nine birdies including three on short holes, regarded as the key to success on this new course. But after pars at the first three playoff holes, his second shot at the fourth finished under a hospitality tent.

While he got a free drop, his pitch to 5 feet was not good enough against Fasth's winning birdie.

Niclas Fasth made a 6-foot birdie putt in sudden death to capture the title. (AP)

Fasth pumped his fist as early as the second hole when he made a birdie putt.

"I need to be really focused all the time. I don't play as well when I relax," Fasth said. "I didn't much like the shots that led to those two bogeys, but in the end I got it sorted and hit a great shot to make birdie."

It came after a 9-iron from 145 yards to 6 feet.

Fasth said he had not yet thought much about playing in the Ryder Cup again this year after his sole appearance in 2002.

"Right now I want to get my game up and running and it's getting close. I expect it to be there in about month, maybe sooner," he said.

Griffiths bogeyed the third and fourth holes to fall out of the lead despite three birdies on the back nine for a 72.

"My close control was just a little out and my putting wasn't as good, but I was pleased with my strong finish," Griffiths said.

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