VERSAILLES, France (AFP) - Martin Kaymer of Germany won the 4-million-euro French Open at Le Golf National on Sunday after a dramatic playoff victory over England's Lee Westwood.

They both finished at 13-under par 271, Westwood closing with a 65 and Kaymer with a 68 to set up the decider.

Playing down the spectacular 18th hole, both found deep rough left off the tee.

Kaymer's second from 175 yards out just cleared the large lake guarding the green, but Westwood then looked on aghast as his ball plunged in.

The Englishman came up short with his pitch, his fourth shot, and Kaymer clinched the biggest win of his career worth 666,000 euros by sinking a 20-footer for par.

Alone in third place at 10-under was England's Ian Poulter who carded a 67, with Anders Hansen of Denmark, who closed with a 66, and Peter Hanson of Sweden, who had a 70, tied for fourth a shot further back

It was the third win of 25-year-old Kaymer's pro career after Abu Dhabi and the BMW International last year as he became the first German since Bernhard Langer 25 years ago to lift the French Open.

With overnight leader Rafa Echenique of Argentina falling away and Poulter's charge from five strokes off the pace coming to grief at the 15th where he found water, it came down to a two-way battle down the back nine between Westwood and Kaymer.

The Englishman's tremendous 65, which included seven birdies in the first 13 holes, set the target of 13-under par for Kaymer who had three holes to play at that stage and was also at 13-under.

The European Tour Rookie of the Year in 2007 had real birdie chances at the par-three 16th and par-four 17th, but his putts slid agonisingly past on both occasions.

But he then sunk a five-footer for par at the last setting up the playoff.