Seeking a record-tying sixth Claret Jug, Watson squandered the chance to become golf's oldest major champion when he overshot the green before missing an eight-foot par putt on the 72nd hole.

Cink, who had earlier rolled in a 15-footer there for a birdie three to take the clubhouse lead on two-under 278 at Turnberry's Ailsa Course, took advantage to seal his maiden major title.

"I'm a little intimidated by this piece of hardware here," an emotional Cink, 36, said after being presented with the Claret Jug on the 18th green.

"There are a lot of emotions running through my mind and heart and I'm as proud as I can be to be here with this (trophy).

"It was fun watching Tom all week and I'm sure I speak for all the rest of the people too."

Cink won the first extra hole, the 5th, with a par when Watson took a five after hitting his approach into a greenside bunker and hitting an ugly third shot from the sand.

They each parred the second extra hole, the par-three 6th, before Cink effectively sealed the win at the par-five 17th with a two-putt birdie.

Watson double-bogeyed the hole after driving into thick rough on the right and taking two more shots to reach the fairway.

Cink, who had previously finished third three times in majors, thrust both arms skywards to celebrate his breakthrough win after rolling in a four-footer to birdie the fourth extra hole, the 18th.

REMARKABLE MAJOR

One of the most remarkable major championships of all time finally ended with Watson having to settle for second place in pursuit of a ninth major title.

He had been aiming to shatter golf's previous record for the oldest major winner, compatriot Julius Boros having clinched the 1968 US PGA Championship at the age of 48.

"It would have been a hell of a story, wouldn't it?" Watson said. "It wasn't to be.

"Yes, it's a great disappointment. It (losing) tears at your gut, as it always has torn at my gut. It's not easy to take."

The duo had finished the regulation 72 holes on two under, Watson bogeying the last for a 72 and Cink closing with a 69.

Blustery crosswinds made scoring difficult in the final round of the year's third major and the leaderboard fluctuated wildly.

Ross Fisher, with back-to-back birdies from the first, and fellow Briton Lee Westwood, after the seventh, established two-shot cushions before slipping back.

All of the leading players dropped shots on the back nine and Cink never led until holing his birdie putt on the 18th green.

Westwood, who eagled the par-five 7th, faltered after the turn on the way to a 71 and a tie for third place with fellow Briton Chris Wood (67).

Double US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa eagled the 17th for a 72 to share fifth place with Britain's Luke Donald (67) and Australian Mathew Goggin (73).

FINAL SCORES

278 Stewart Cink 66 72 71 69
Tom Watson 65 70 71 72
*Cink wins after playoff

279 Chris Wood (Britain) 70 70 72 67
Lee Westwood (Britain) 68 70 70 71

280 Luke Donald (Britain) 71 72 70 67
Retief Goosen (South Africa) 67 70 71 72
Mathew Goggin (Australia) 66 72 69 73

281 Soren Hansen (Denmark) 68 72 74 67
Justin Leonard 70 70 73 68
Ernie Els (South Africa) 69 72 72 68
Thomas Aiken (South Africa) 71 72 69 69
Richard S Johnson (Sweden) 70 72 69 70

282 Jeff Overton 70 69 76 67
Andres Romero (Argentina) 68 74 73 67
Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 64 73 76 69
Matteo Manassero* (Italy) 71 70 72 69
Camilo Villegas (Colombia) 66 73 73 70
Justin Rose (Britain) 69 72 71 70
Francesco Molinari (Italy) 71 70 71 70
Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 71 70 71 70
Boo Weekley 67 72 72 71
Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 69 72 69 72
Ross Fisher (Britain) 69 68 70 75

283 Peter Hanson (Sweden) 70 71 72 70
Oliver Wilson (Britain) 72 70 71 70
Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 69 70 72 72

284 Davis Love III 69 73 73 69
Soren Kjeldsen (Denmark) 68 76 71 69
Nick Watney 71 72 71 70
Mark Calcavecchia 67 69 77 71
Kenichi Kuboya (Japan) 65 72 75 72
James Kingston (South Africa) 67 71 74 72
John Daly 68 72 72 72

285 Richard Sterne (South Africa) 67 73 75 70

287 Branden Grace (South Africa) 67 72 73 75

Source:  supersport.co.za