SINGAPORE _ Liang Wenchong of China Liang par on the first hole of a sudden death playoff Sunday to beat Malaysian Iain Steel to win the Singapore Masters for his first major title.

Liang shot a 1-over-par final round of 73 while Steel had a 1-under 71 to finish tied at 11-under 277 at the US$1.1 million (euro830,000) tournament, co-sanctioned by the European and Asian tours.

Liang made par on the first playoff hole at the Laguna National Golf and Country Club, while Steel, who was on his way to a double bogey after finding the water from the tee-off, did not finish. The Chinese player, who has won pro-tournaments in China, claimed his first win on either the Asian or European tours.

Steel shot four birdies, a bogey and a double bogey for his final round, while Liang, who recently finished third at the Philippine Open, had four birdies against three bogeys and a double bogey.

England's Simon Dyson was one stroke behind after a 1-under 71 in which he made three birdied against two bogeys.

Nick Dougherty (71), who intermittently led the field during the round with seven birdies, finished two strokes off the lead at 279 with compatriots David Lynn (69) and Anthony Wall (67), and Frenchman Jean Van de Velde (69).

Steel was leading by two strokes at the 16th after Liang's double bogey on the par-5 15th. The two players were tied at 11-under after Liang birdied the par-4 16th hole while Steel carded a bogey.

Liang and Steel made par on the final two holes to force the playoff.

Liang drove down the middle of the fairway at the par-4 playoff hole, the 18th, but Steel found water by the side of the fairway.

"When he found water I thought to myself that I had a good chance to win," said Liang, who is now the second Chinese professional golfer to win a title outside China after Zhang Lianwei.

In shared eighth position at 8-under, three strokes off the lead, were Ireland's Peter Lawrie (74), Welshman Craig Smith (67), Jyoti Randhawa of India (75), Taiwan's Lin Keng-chi (70), and Australians Terry Pilkadaris (72) and Scott Barr (70).