Davis reigns in Spain

England's Brian Davis yesterday claimed his first European Tour title by winning the Spanish Open at PGA Golf de Catalunya. The 25-year-old carded a final-round 69 for a 14-under-par total of 274 to pocket the winner's cheque of £100,000. He finished three shots clear of Austrian Markus Brier, who fired a closing 71, with Argentinian Eduardo Romero (71) a shot further back after a costly bogey on the last.

England's Peter Baker finished alongside Romero on 10 under after breaking the course record with a brilliant 64 to set the early clubhouse target.

Irish hope Gary Murphy shot a final round of 69 to finish on a total of 283, nine shots off the winning total.

Davis admitted his deserved victory had yet to sink in as he revealed how he came close to quitting the sport following a serious illness in 1998. Having contracted chickenpox on a flight home from South Africa, he was taken ill with the virus at an event in Dubai and spent a week in intensive care with dangerously high blood clot levels.

"When I was ill in Dubai I lost my way to be honest. My swing had gone to pot, I couldn't focus and I was struggling to find any rhythm," he said.

Fortunately for Davis his American-based coach Tony Ziegler persuaded him to be patient and some hard work on his game, fitness and putting - with Steve Bryan, head professional at his club East Herts - paid dividends.

Three top-10 finishes already this season - including a third in Portugal - had earned Davis £75,000 before this event and he was always favourite yesterday after three birdies in four holes from the third took him four clear at one stage.

Baker was a star of Europe's Ryder Cup team in 1993 - beating Corey Pavin in the singles and earning three points out of four - but has not tasted victory since that year.

"I just putted great today," he said afterwards. "That's the best I've putted since 1993. I'm very pleased to get the ball running and hopefully another win is round the corner.

Colin Montgomerie had more woes on the greens in a final round of 71 that left him having to settle for fifth place.

Sergio Garcia finished in a tie for 12th after a roller-coaster 73 that included five birdies but consecutive double-bogeys.