Goosen keeps his nerve in tie hole win

Surrounded by familiar faces, Retief Goosen yesterday produced a familiar result. The South African won the French Open at Golf du Medoc, beating New Zealand's Greg Turner at the second extra hole.

The two men had tied at 12 under par, 272, with Jose Coceres and Santiago Luna finishing a distant joint-third, three strokes behind.

Ian Woosnam, struggling on the tricky putting surfaces, could only manage a level-par 71 to finish in a tie for fifth place alongside Ireland's Eamonn Darcy - who enjoyed his best finish for almost four years - and Argentinian Jorge Berendt.

Darcy collected £21,726 after a final round of 68 gave him a total of eight under par 276. Des Smyth finished four shots further back on 280 after a final round of 71 while it was another disappointing day for John McHenry who finished well down the field after a 78. It was Goosen's second win in this event in three years, with his previous victory coming at Le National course in Paris. Then, as now, he played alongside Marc Farry, with Jamie Spence among the contenders. Farry fell away on both occasions and yesterday Spence - who was runner-up to Goosen in 1997 - failed to make a run at the title.

Goosen has now won three times in Europe; not quite the return envisaged when he led the qualifying school in 1992. He has a lovely rhythmic swing but his progress has been hampered by injuries. He was hit by lightning in South Africa as an amateur and every day he visits the tour's travelling physiotherapist for treatment on a wrist injury incurred while skiing.

But yesterday Goosen kept his nerve, despite twice finding green-side bunkers at the 18th both in regular time and on the second play-off hole. On both occasions he recovered to within a couple of feet, and Turner lost it when he could not get up and down from the back of the green.

The class act after three rounds was Ian Woosnam, who appeared to be regaining something of the jauntiness that characterised him at his best. On the eve of the final round Woosnam talked about how much he liked Golf du Medoc, saying it would be ideal for a family golfing holiday. He also felt the course suited him, particularly given his position, needing to make a charge. But when the time came to make his move from only three strokes behind the overnight leaders, there was nothing there. Worse still, his putter had gone sour on him.

The first hole, a short par four, and the second, a relatively simple par five, both offer birdies, but Woosnam alone among the leaders failed to achieve one at either.

In fact he parred the first seven holes, missing three distinct birdie chances, before three-putting at the short eighth. "If the greens are bumpy next week I might go back to the long putter. I don't feel so twitchy with the big one. The par four 9th, into the breeze, demanded a fairway wood for the second shot and Woosnam missed the green by miles. When he failed to get up and down, dropping his second successive shot, he was effectively out of contention.