Markus Brier created golfing history this afternoon when he became the first Austrian winner on the full European Tour by capturing his home title by three strokes.

Brier overcame understandable early nerves in front of his home supporters at the Fontana club to lead the Austrian Open from start to finish, closing with a three-under-par 68 for 18-under-par 266.
   
He finished three strokes ahead of Denmark's Soren Hansen and four in front of Britain's Simon Dyson, while Kilkenny's Gary Murphy had a season's best finish of fifth following a storming final round 65. That left Murphy on 10 under and earned him a cheque for just over €55,000.
   
Despite David Higgins' bright start to the tournament the kerryman slipped badly off the pace over the weekend. Closing rounds of 72 74 meant he dropped back to three under and a tie for 20th.

Paul McGinley closed with a 72 for a three over aggregate, four better than fellow Dubliner Stephen Browne who signed-off with a 73.

As for the winner, Brier had twice won the Austrian Open as a Challenge Tour event, Sunday's victory made him the 10th first-time winner on the full tour
   
The Austrian had to show great determination after coming under attack from Hansen and tournament favourite Colin Montgomerie.
   
Two early bogeys by Brier, and a run of three birdies by Montgomerie brought the eight-times European number one within a stroke, with the Briton making up five of the six shots he trailed Brier before the final round.
   
With playing-partner Dyson catching him, too, Brier needed to regroup and did so with a birdie just before the turn to edge back ahead on his own.
   
Hansen's run of four successive birdies from the eighth, though, then took him alongside the Austrian but pressure from Montgomerie ended when the Scot dropped five shots in four holes from the 11th.
   
Hansen, without a win since his maiden 2002 Irish Open success, finally gave way, too, with a bogey on 16, to allow Brier his victory march in front of a delighted gallery.