“I’ve played some of the best golf of my life”. That was Matt Wallace’s verdict after beating Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston in a dramatic play-off to win the Hero Indian Open.

The Moor Park professional came into the final round in a share of the lead on seven-under par and was to finish with a 72-hole total of 11-under after a round of 68, a total matched by Johnston following his 66.

The 27-year-old struck a monster drive on the 18th – the first additional hole – and with his rival laying up and seeing a birdie putt lip out, a superb second gave the Pinner-based player two putts to win the title.

Wallace rolled his first up to the side of the hole and tapped in to secure a second European Tour triumph following last year’s Open de Portugal victory, a win that gave him his card in the co-sanctioned Challenge Tour event.

“I played great,” he told the European Tour following his win. “Ever since being three over through eight at the start of the week I’ve played some of the best golf of my life and to do it in that style at the end there capped it off.

“Beef really had a great round today because I was playing fantastic and thought I might have been a few more clear.

“I hit some really good shots and that play-off: I pumped it down there on the last and it went a long way and then a four iron went even further than I thought it would so I was jacked up a bit. To hit two shots like that is exactly why I play the game.”

Birdies at the second, fourth and a 30-foot putt on the seventh had seen Wallace take early command of the final round in New Delhi as he opened up a three-shot lead.

Johnston narrowed the gap to two with a birdie at nine, but the 2016 six-time Alps Tour winner responded by chipping in at the next hole.

However, the North Middlesex player picked up shots at the 13th and 17th to reduce the lead to one shot, and after Wallace bogeyed 16 they were tied on 11-under.