Dredge posts emphatic win

Wales’ Bradley Dredge today cruised to his second European Tour title with an eight-shot victory in the Omega European Masters.

Dredge carded a final round of 67 for a 17-under-par total of 267 to claim the first prize.

It was the largest winning margin of the season so far, beating the previous best of five shots by David Howell at the BMW Championship at Wentworth, but still some way short of the record 15-shot win by Tiger Woods in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach.

Germany’s Marcel Siem and Italy’s Francesco Molinari shared second place on nine under after rounds of 73 and 71 respectively.

Defending champion and part-time local resident Sergio Garcia began the day five shots off the lead and never threatened the leaders.

The world number eight eventually signed for a 71 to finish in a share of fourth place with Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen and Scotland’s Marc Warren on eight under.

Dredge had finished second three times and recorded a total of 16 top-10 finishes since his previous victory in the Madeira Island Open in 2003.

Numerous winning chances had gone begging but there was never any chance of a repeat from the moment he birdied the first three holes for the second day in succession.

On Saturday he had followed that run with a double-bogey six on the fourth after driving out of bounds, but this time he made a regulation par and thereafter was able to cruise to victory, his only blemish coming with a bogey on the 16th.

The Irish failed to make any significant inroads, with Graeme McDowell the best of the four on one over par for the tournament after a final round 74.

David Higgins finished on two over with Peter Lawrie a shot further back. Michael Hoey was on seven over par.