Graeme McDowell won his first PGA Tour title since April 2013 with victory at the first play-off hole in the OHL Classic in Mexico. The 2010 US Open winner admits the barren run - his last victory anywhere was at the French Open 16 months ago - left him questioning his ability after dropping out of the world’s top 50.

But after handing the initiative to fellow co-leader Russell Knox by bogeying the 16th as the rain-delayed tournament went into an extra day he seized his second chance at the first play-off hole with a brilliant approach to two feet for birdie to guarantee himself a place at next year’s Masters and PGA Championship.

“It really gives me something to grab onto,” McDowell said of the victory. “You go through a year like this and you think ‘am I finished? Am I good enough?’

“It has been a tough year but this is special. I have been dreaming of this day and I said to myself I was going to appreciate it when it came.

“I’ve stuck to my task the last couple of months and this is a nice step back up to where I want to be. “I hit as good a five-iron as I could hit and it was nice to knock in a two-and-a-half footer to take care of this.”

McDowell began the day tied with Knox on 19-under after Sunday’s final day was cut short by storms but after a brief stoppage for more rain Knox made his move with a birdie at the 13th. The Scot, chasing back-to-back victories after winning the WGC-HSBC Champions last week, handed back that shot at the next but it was McDowell’s error in leaving his par putt in the jaws of the hole at the 16th which opened the door for Knox.

Second Captains

Graeme McDowell almost ended the playoff with one swing. #QuickHits https://t.co/lekXuS82TL — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) November 16, 2015

As the Co Antrim golfer posted the clubhouse lead on 18-under - holing a nerveless 10-footer for par - Knox stood on the 18th tee needing a par-four for victory.

However, he pulled his drive into a bunker, came up short of the green and missed from 15 feet for victory. Jason Bohn, who had started the day two behind, joined them in the play-off but when McDowell, first to play his approach to the 18th, hit a five iron to two feet victory was his as neither of his rivals could match his birdie.

Leading Scores

266 Graeme McDowell (N Irl) 67 63 70 66(Graeme McDowell wins at first play-off hole.), Russell Knox (Sco) 70 65 65 66, Jason Bohn 70 63 65 68

268 Derek Fathauer 65 66 66 71

270 Scott Brown 67 67 68 68, Harold Varner III 70 62 68 70

271 Brice Garnett 67 66 69 69

272 Keegan Bradley 67 71 68 66, Johnson Wagner 67 67 67 71

273 Spencer Levin 68 66 68 71, Peter Malnati 68 71 67 67, Jon Rahm (Spa) 69 68 66 70, Boo Weekley 67 70 69 67, Patrick Rodgers 67 66 69 71, Hunter Stewart 68 69 68 68, Zac Blair 68 67 68 70

274 Jason Kokrak 68 67 68 71, Charles Howell III 66 71 70 67, Si Woo Kim (Kor) 68 64 72 70, Will Wilcox 69 66 68 71, Dawie Van Der Walt (Rsa) 66 74 64 70, Freddie Jacobson (Swe) 70 69 63 72, Jim Herman 69 67 70 68, D.J. Trahan 66 71 67 70

275 Shawn Stefani 65 68 69 73, Cameron Beckman 67 71 68 69, Roberto Castro 70 68 68 69, Bronson Burgoon 71 68 67 69 276 Justin Leonard 65 68 67 76, Ryan Blaum 73 65 69 69, Sam Saunders 68 71 68 69, Camilo Villegas (Col) 67 68 70 71, Jon Curran 68 71 67 70