Johansson turns back the clock

Sweden's Per-Ulrik Johansson claimed his first European Tour title for a decade with a commanding victory in the Russian Open today.

Johansson carded a final round of 67 for a 23-under-par total of 265 in Moscow, six shots clear of Holland's Robert-Jan Derksen.

Canada-based Scot Alan McLean, playing alongside Johansson and Derksen, bogeyed the 18th to finish a shot further back in third.

Sweden's Christopher Hanell finished in a tie for sixth after a double bogey on the 18th, where he played his fourth shot from the walkway on the leaderboard to the right of the green.

Ireland's Gary Murphy was also tied for six after a closing level par round of 72 saw him finish the tournament on 11 under par, 12 shots behind Johansson.

Johansson played on the victorious European Ryder Cup teams at Oak Hill and Valderrama, but had not won since the European Open in 1997.

The 40-year-old showed signs of his old form when finishing 15th in the same tournament earlier this season and took control at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club with a superb 62 in the second round.

Four shots clear heading into the final round - which saw tee-off times brought forward several hours due to the threat of bad weather - Johansson was never threatened and made sure of victory with a front nine of 32.

Another birdie on the 11th allowed him to fully enjoy the rest of his long-overdue victory which earnt him a valuable two-year exemption and the first prize of £165,000.

"I feel great," said Johansson. "I haven't won since 1997. I have played some good golf since then but I haven't played this well so I am very, very pleased.

"It is tough when you haven't won for that long but the most important thing is that you still have to play when you get into a position.

"You can't think about winning because you can't control the other people so I am very pleased with the way I did that.

"I focused on every shot and the only time my mind wandered away a little bit was in the middle of the round and I was thinking about speeches and stuff but I kicked myself and said, no, no, think only about the present and it really worked.

"I think my putting was the best I have ever putted through a whole tournament. I can't remember making that many putts.

"My long game was okay and I kept the ball in play but every time I got the ball on the green I felt like I had a chance for birdie - that was a great feeling."