MAYNOOTH, Ireland, May 22 (Reuters) Denmark's Thomas Bjorn birdied the last two holes today to win the weather-affected Irish Open title.
Bjorn equalled the European Tour's record best recovery when he came back from a first round 78 to close with a level-par 72 on the tournament's fifth day to total five-under-par 283, a stroke better than Britain's Paul Casey.
The Dane's ninth European Tour title came after a battle of attrition with the weather, high winds on the opening day and torrential rain yesterday extending the tournament's life.
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke looked favourite to win when he began the day two strokes ahead of the field on the ninth.
But he bogeyed the hole and with two bogeys in the last three holes, including a three-putt at the 72nd, had to be satisfied with third place, a stroke behind Casey.
Bjorn's victory represented a remarkable comeback.
On Friday morning, the 35-year-old Dane finished off his disrupted first round with a triple-bogey eight for a six-over-par 78.
After a quick turnaround, though, he then equalled the course record 66 later on that Friday to put himself into contention, only three strokes off the halfway lead.
A 67 on Saturday gave him a share the lead and his grandstand finish equalled a tour record set by George Burns, also in Ireland, who won the 1975 Kerrygold International Classic at Waterville, also after beginning with a 78.
Bjorn's victory comes after a year of illness and injury and puts the Dane into contention for a third Ryder Cup appearance.
REUTERS DH KN1805
Bjorn equalled the European Tour's record best recovery when he came back from a first round 78 to close with a level-par 72 on the tournament's fifth day to total five-under-par 283, a stroke better than Britain's Paul Casey.
The Dane's ninth European Tour title came after a battle of attrition with the weather, high winds on the opening day and torrential rain yesterday extending the tournament's life.
Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke looked favourite to win when he began the day two strokes ahead of the field on the ninth.
But he bogeyed the hole and with two bogeys in the last three holes, including a three-putt at the 72nd, had to be satisfied with third place, a stroke behind Casey.
Bjorn's victory represented a remarkable comeback.
On Friday morning, the 35-year-old Dane finished off his disrupted first round with a triple-bogey eight for a six-over-par 78.
After a quick turnaround, though, he then equalled the course record 66 later on that Friday to put himself into contention, only three strokes off the halfway lead.
A 67 on Saturday gave him a share the lead and his grandstand finish equalled a tour record set by George Burns, also in Ireland, who won the 1975 Kerrygold International Classic at Waterville, also after beginning with a 78.
Bjorn's victory comes after a year of illness and injury and puts the Dane into contention for a third Ryder Cup appearance.
REUTERS DH KN1805
Oneindia Login