Thin field sees former caddie become master

Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez, a former caddie, yesterday became the third first-time winner on the European Tour in the space of four weeks.

Following German Tobias Dier's win in Ireland, and English rookie Paul Casey's victory in Scotland, the 31-year-old captured the Omega European Masters in Switzerland by three strokes.

Gonzalez, biggest hitter on the circuit this season with an average drive of 303 yards, unleashed some more massive blows as he compiled a closing 68 for a 16-under-par total of 268. Outright leader after every round, he pushed Dane Soren Hansen into second place and so kept the title in Argentine hands 12 months after Eduardo Romero's 10-shot triumph.

Victory was worth €156,616 to a man who made six trips to the tour-qualifying school before graduating from the "second division" Challenge Tour.

American Craig Stadler's attempt to become the oldest winner in European tour history was alive and kicking after he had birdied the first two holes and climbed into joint-second place. But in the end, the 48-year-old, winner of the 1982 US Masters, had to settle for joint-third place with Scot, Gary Orr.

Lee Westwood's hopes of ending his victory drought this year disappeared when he triple-bogeyed the par-four fourth for the second time in the week, but just to play 72 holes with no recurrence of the wrist injury which forced him out of his last event was good news for the Ryder Cup hopeful. "I'd give my wrist 10 out of 10, but my golf about four," he said after finishing alongside world number four Ernie Els in 16th place on four under.

With only two of Europe's top 15 this season in the field - that became one when Thomas Bjorn withdrew with a shoulder injury that ought not to prevent him appearing at The Belfry either - there was always the chance for one of the lesser lights to shine more brightly.

Sure enough, the leaderboard with a round to go was headed by four players without a single tour title between them; Gonzalez led by two from Scahill, and by three from Hansen and Mansfield's Greg Owen.

By the turn, the gap was four and once he had saved par with a superb chip at the short 11th and then birdied the next, Hansen was the only player left with a chance of catching him. But the Dane's failure to birdie either of the par fives in the closing stretch effectively settled the issue.

Meanwhile, Bjorn was a relieved man after a London specialist confirmed his shoulder injury should not keep him out of the Ryder Cup. The 30-year-old Dane suffered what he initially feared was a dislocation after playing a shot during the Swiss tournament on Friday.

With the joint popping straight back in, Bjorn was able to play a further nine holes and was lying ninth, but hours later he started feeling pain and on medical advice withdrew before the third round. After flying to London he saw a specialist on Saturday night and was to make a second visit yesterday. Bjorn is expected to confirm his withdrawal from the $5 million Amex world championship tomorrow.

Described by Sam Torrance as "one of my top men" the European captain described his relief at the specialist's first report. "Brilliant - wonderful news," he said. Luton's Ian Poulter, who has had his own injury worries lately, remains on stand-by.

Darren Clarke finished joint second in the Japanese Suntory Open yesterday. The Ulsterman shot a final round 68 to finish three shots behind local player Shingo Katayama at the 7,166-yard Sabu Country Club.