Ulsterman Graeme McDowell got back to winning ways at Hilton Head on Sunday as he battled to a play-off win over fellow US Open champion Webb Simpson in the RBC Heritage tournament.

A week after missing the cut and the green jacket at the Masters, McDowell was presented with the tartan jacket in North Carolina.

Portrush man McDowell overcame the heavy winds to shoot a final round 70 and set the pace at nine under par which Simpson, out in the final group, then matched.

Ryder Cup star McDowell then made par at the 18th in the play-off where Simpson three-putted for bogey after missing the green to the right with his approach.

Simpson narrowly missed the left edge of the cup from 33 feet with his birdie attempt, his ball ending up six feet beyond the hole after being blown by a sudden gust.

Simpson then missed his par putt and sank to his knees in anguish.

McDowell told CBS: “I’m just disappointed for Webb. He hit a great first putt there on this playoff hole and he got a terrible gust of wind.

“That’s kind of the way it was today. It was really tricky and gusty. I am just really happy to get my first official (regular) PGA Tour win across the line.”

The 2010 US Open winner added: “I played nicely, I played nicely all week. It’s a great golf course here.

“I sat down with Jim Furyk on Tuesday and he said, ‘You’re never out of this tournament. You’ve just got to hang around and hang around.’

“And I did that. I played great Friday. The putter was cold most of the week but I really got it going today.”