Golf: Clarke closes 19-year gap in winning

Darren Clarke, the 32-year-old from Dungannon, won the £2.6m Smurfit European Open Championship at the K-Club to close a 19-year gap since John O'Leary won the Irish Open at Portmarnock.

Clarke carded a final round of 66 for a tournament total of 15 under par 273 and a three-shot win over Padraig Harrington, Thomas Bjorn and Ian Woosnam.

The champion reached the turn in 32 shots with four birdies and one bogey on his card.

He made a hat-trick of birdies from the fourth hole, having had a little luck at the sixth where his approach hit a tree and bounced onto the green.

On his way back he had three further birdies at the 11th, 16th and 18th holes for an inward run of 34.

"I felt comfortable after nine holes, as I was in control of my emotions. I had a little look at the sixth and then gave back a shot at the seventh because I felt a little guilty", he quipped.

Padraig Harrington had an unspectacular final round of 70 as overnight leader Mikael Lundberg slumped to an amazing 80 to finish well down the leaderboard.

Sharing second place with Harrington at 12 under were Thomas Bjorn also collected a £100,000 diamond for covering the par five holes during the tournament in 14 under par.

Latest finishes:

P Harrington (Ire) 70 for 276

H Bjornstad (Nor) 73 for 276

J Sandelin (Swe) 77 for 282

M Lundberg (Swe) 80 for 284