SANTO DA SERRA, Madeira Islands — Alastair Forsyth overcame a five-stroke deficit today before beating Hennie Otto on the first playoff hole to win the Madeira Islands Open on the European Tour.

The 32-year-old Scot birdied the 18th hole to shoot a 5-under 67 and force the playoff at 18-under 273. Forsyth then birdied the par-4 18th again in the playoff for his first win since the 2002 Malaysian Open.

Forsyth trailed Otto (72) by five strokes heading into Sunday's final round.

Gary Clark (70) was third, four strokes behind, and Sven Struver (69) was fourth at 278.