South African Tim Clark was munching on a pie and chips after telling his wife he had blown his shot at the Australian Open title when he saw rival Mathew Goggin warming up.

Clark swallowed the rest of his meal, joined Goggin on the practice green and half an hour later was anointed Australian Open winner.

In a remarkable afternoon of golf at Royal Sydney, the 32-year-old from Durban came from nowhere to beat Goggin in the first playoff hole and etch his name alongside Jack Nicklaus and countryman Gary Player on the Stonehaven Cup.

"I didn't even consider that there would be a playoff until 30 minutes after I'd finished (the fourth round)," a stunned Clark explained.

"I spoke to my wife and said 'I think I've thrown away another tournament'."

"I made that double (bogey) on the par three (14th) and I thought that was that."

"I packed up the locker and spoke to my caddy and said see you in America in a few months."

"But after leaving the locker-room I thought 'it's not easy out there I better just stick around'."

"I was watching the TV having a pie and chips believe it or not and saw Mat on the putting green warming up and thought I'd better get down there and start hitting some balls or something."

Clark finished the final round nine-under and, like Goggin, was preparing to salute New Zealander David Smail as the 2008 Australian Open winner.

But the Kiwi committed golfing suicide on the back nine, throwing away a three stroke lead and forcing Goggin and Clark back into action.

Clark held his nerve on the playoff hole to claim an unexpected but much satisfying victory.

"Obviously it was just a bonus to get into the playoff and I feel bad for David too in a way for the way he finished," he said

"And then in the playoff (I'm) just shocked to have won it like that too."

"It's a tough way to win like that but at the end of the day I am the winner."

"I've had a great three weeks here before winning this tournament and this is just obviously a bonus for me and certainly does a lot for my world ranking and everything that comes with it."

Clark leaves with the country's national golf championship and a deep affection for a place he claims is more welcoming than the one he returns to.

He will jet back to Cape Town on Monday to contest the South Africa Open, happy to support his local circuit but still irked about the lack of recognition and respect he receives in the republic.

"I feel like I needed to play there - I want to play at least one event - but in all honesty I felt more welcome here than I do when I go home," Clark said.

"I don't want it to sound like a knock on the South African tour but I've really been made to feel very welcome here and have enjoyed my time."

"I can feel the appreciation of the people around that I'm here playing but I don't feel like that when I'm at home."

"I try not to worry about it too much and I have worried about it too much in the past."

"This year I just thought I'd go to Australia and play and I would like to come back and play again."

 2008 Australian Open Final Results and Earnings