Lundberg claims another title in Russia

Sweden's Mikael Lundberg lived up to his own hype to claim a second Inteco Russian Open title in four years on Sunday.

Lundberg, winner in Moscow in 2005, boasted after his second round that: "I feel that I don't have to beat anyone around here - they have to beat me."

And the 34-year-old was proved correct after a final round of 68 gave him a 21-under-par total at Le Meridien Moscow Country Club and a two-shot victory over Spain's Jose Manuel Lara (64).

England's Benn Barham birdied the last to finish third on 18-under with Norway's Jan Are Larsen a shot further back in fourth. Former world amateur number one Jamie Moul, one off the lead overnight, could only manage a closing 73 to fall back into a tie for sixth.

"This is my absolute favourite place, everything is great here," said Lundberg, who lost his card in 2006 but returned to the tour via the Challenge Tour last year.

"The worst part is you come here and it feels like I always play well and I should do well, so you put a lot of pressure on yourself and you wonder when you are going to screw up!"

That looked like being on the 15th hole when, after pulling his drive into the trees, Lundberg hit a tree with his recovery attempt and had to hack out down the fairway with his third shot.

However, he then pitched to seven feet and holed for a vital par before making birdies on the next two holes to have the luxury of playing the last with a two-shot lead.

"I didn't play good at all," Lundberg said. "I didn't want to make any mistakes and just tried to play it safe until Lara went in front and I loosened up a bit.

"On 15 I hit a terrible drive in the trees but managed to save par somehow and I holed two great putts on 16 and 17. The save on 15 turned everything around. If I don't make that I'm behind and have no chance."

Lundberg had missed the cut in his previous two events and failed to register a single top-10 finish in 2008, but takes home the first prize of £166,000 and a two-year tour exemption.

"I'm pretty satisfied with my game, I just had not put the scores together," he added. "I just somehow screwed up on one or two holes every tournament. I told my coach and everyone back home that the game was there and hopefully it would all turn around this week, and it did."