Bjorn bounces back

Denmark's Thomas Bjorn produced his best golf since his Ryder Cup debut two years ago to win the Sarazen World Open in Girona.

Bjorn survived yet another delay due to the threat of lightning to card a final round of 68 for a 15-under-par total of 273 at PGA Golf de Catalunya.

The 28-year-old, the first Dane to play in the Ryder Cup when the event was staged at Valderrama, finished two ahead of Japan's Katsuyoshi Tomori and Switzerland's Paolo Quirici, with local favourite Francisco Cea fourth on 12 under.

It brought Bjorn the winner's cheque for £66,660 which lifted him into the top 20 on the Order of Merit and gives him a place in the World Golf Championship at Valderrama, an event with a prize fund of over £3 million.

"It's been a long time. It's nice to be back in this position," he said after finishing in near-darkness.

"That was probably my best golf from tee to green since the Ryder Cup in 1997, better even than when I won a couple of tournaments in 1998.

"The most important thing this year was to get into Valderrama and I've done that. It was an important step and I want to be there among the best and today was a big step in the right direction.

"It's very enjoyable to win again and I'm glad it happened this week. Everything is in order and now I want to be in the top 50 in the world rankings."

Tomori carded a closing 70 while Quirici's 68 saw him secure his highest-ever finish on the tour, the pair collecting £34,740 each for joint-second place.