Elvira hit his second shot out of bounds on the sixth extra-hole to effectively gift a fourth DP World Tour title to Hojgaard, who had made a crucial par save on the previous hole to keep his hopes alive.

"I'm speechless," Hojgaard told Sky Sports after a win on Sunday which moves him within 100 points of an automatic qualifying place for the Ryder Cup.

"To be fair, I did not think I would end up in a play-off today. It's quite amazing. It's a dream come true to win our home event.

"This is better than I could ever dream of. We've wanted a Danish winner for so long, so now to be the first one to do it is amazing."

Hojgaard, who used to attend the event with his family – including fellow professional and twin brother Nicolai – added: "It isn't that long ago that I was one of those kids trying to get balls and signed gloves. It's awesome to see them out here supporting us."

Hojgaard began the day six shots off the lead but surged through the field with a closing 64, including a birdie on the daunting 18th, to set the target on 13-under-par.

RELATED: Hojgaard's winning bag

Richie Ramsay had the first chance to surpass that target after a birdie on the 16th took him to 14-under, only to find the water with his approach to the last to run up a double-bogey and finish a shot outside the play-off.

Overnight leader Elvira, who had bogeyed the 13th and 15th to fall two shots off the pace, birdied the next two holes to catch Ramsay as the Scot played the 18th, but bogeyed the same hole after a long wait on the tee as Ramsay determined where his ball had entered the hazard.

"This is better than I could ever dream of. We've wanted a Danish winner for so long, so now to be the first one to do it is amazing." - Rasmus Hojgaard.

Elvira, who had made just five cuts in 17 previous events this year, had the consolation of securing a place in The Open Championship with his runner's-up finish, with former champion Marc Warren and Kalle Samooja taking the other two spots in a tie for fourth.

Scotland's Robert MacIntyre held a two-shot lead at the turn after covering the front nine in 32 to reach 15-under, but ran up a triple-bogey seven on the 13th after failing to move his second shot from waist-high rough.

MacIntyre also bogeyed the 15th to card a closing 71 and finish alongside Warren, Samooja and Alexander Bjork on 11-under-par.

Australian David Micheluzzi had a top-20 finish, eventually ending up joint-17th at eight-under-par, five behind the winners after a final-round 70.