Sunday May 23, 2010, 06:43 PM

Simon Khan was a fairytale winner of the European PGA Championship when he shot a last round 66, five-under par, to snatch the title by a shot from Luke Donald and Sweden's Fredrik Andersson Hed here on Sunday.

The Englishman finished with a four-round aggregate of 278, six-under to take his second European title at the 216th attempt.

Khan, ranked 471st in the world, had to rely on a sponsor's invitation to play in the event and only found out he was in on Monday.

The 37-year-old was realising a childhood dream - as a youngster he used to catch the train to Wentworth to watch the likes of Severiano Ballesteros from outside the ropes.

Khan said: "This week means everything to me. This tournament is the reason I started to play golf and just to be here was unbelievable.

"I have always felt confident around the course - I love the way you see the shots so clearly."

Donald, round in level par 71, needed to eagle the last to force a play-off but was short in two and could not hole his approach shot to the green.

US-based Englishman Donald said: "It will be disappointing for a few days but I have got a baby daughter to see - they are coming over during the week and there is more to life than golf.

"But I will get my cap on in a few days and I'll be in Madrid trying to win there.

"My mind is on 17 a little bit - it was just a poor tee shot. I gave my best with the wedge on the last but it wasn't to be."

Andersson Hed was one of the few players apart from Khan to make any headway on the final day.

He fired six birdies in a 67 to set the lead in the clubhouse before Khan came in with his six-under mark.

Overnight leader Chris Wood's title hopes collapsed early in his round.

He had a double bogey on the third after driving into trouble and taking two in a bunker, he then bogeyed the eighth and ninth to move right out of contention. He finished with a 77 and a tie for sixth.

Wood said: "Nothing seemed to go at all - it was demoralising. It is the first time I've led going into the last round - I don't really know what to say."

World number three Lee Westwood finally showed some form shooting a 66 early in the day to shoot up the leader board and finish in a tie for 11th.

But none of the big names could make an impression at the top of the leaderboard.

Padraig Harrington shot a 72 to finish in a tie for sixth with James Kingston and Paul Lawrie whilst first round leader Danny Willett shot 74 to finish fifth.

Khan, second in the championship in 2006, lost his card last season and was forced to go to European Tour Qualifying School, which he won, to regain it but this victory gives him a five-year exemption, a three-year exemption for the British Open and a place in the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and WGC - Champions tournaments.

Beginning his round seven shots behind Wood, in 13th place, Khan had three birdies in the first six holes to be out in 32.

After birdies at the 10th and 13th he dropped a shot at the par-4 16th but a 20-foot putt at the last that rolled around the hole before dropping in got him to six-under.

Khan added: "I had a good look and knew I needed that one. After feeding up to the hole it managed to get enough of the lip to go in.

"I have been struggling with the putting all week but I managed to hole a few today. I was hitting a lot of greens and I said to my wife last night 'the putting is already there'."

The seven shot swing is the biggest comeback in the history of the tournament beating Maurice Bembridge's record of coming from six behind to take the event in 1974.

© 2010 AFP/sid