SYDNEY (REUTERS, AFP) - Australian golfer Brett Rumford beat Thai teenager Phachara Khongwatmai two and one in the six-hole matchplay final to win the inaugural World Super 6 title in Perth on Sunday.

Despite the innovative format, the 39-year-old local put together what was effectively a wire-to-wire victory at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club, having finished the first three days of strokeplay with a five-shot lead.

Rumford hit his tee shot to within three feet of the flag on the par-three fifth hole of the final, while Phachara hit the greenside bunker and had no luck putting his way out.

It was a sixth European Tour victory for Rumford, who turned professional the year after 17-year-old Phachara was born, and re-secured him the tour rights he lost at the end of last year.

"It's massive," he added. "I had a tough year but I'm back and I couldn't be happier."

The Thai would have become the second-youngest winner in European Tour history if he had won.

Rumford had a bye in the first round of the matchplay round and overcame Hideto Tanihara, Wade Ormsby and Adam Bland on the way to the final.

Phachara squeezed into the 24th and final spot in the Super 6 and defeated Australians Sam Brazel, Lucas Herbert, Matthew Millar and Jason Scrivener en route to the final.