Clarke reigns in Spain

GOLF:DARREN CLARKE won his first European Tour event for almost three years at the Iberdrola Open in Majorca after carding a closing 69 to leapfrog Chris Wood on the leaderboard.

Clarke went into the final day four shots adrift of the 23-year-old Englishman, but Wood could not secure a maiden victory on the tour and carded a disappointing round of six-over-par 76.

Clarke, 42, had almost wiped out Wood’s four-shot overnight lead after three holes, reducing the deficit to one. Last year’s European Ryder Cup vice-captain then found the water on the 11th and the double-bogey that followed could have easily cost him dearly.

But Wood encountered several problems of his own on the back nine, carding five bogeys before almost picking up a hole-in-one on the 18th.

With Wood floundering, Clarke showed his experience and picked up successive birdies at the 14th and 15th to wrap up a rather comfortable three-shot victory for his 13th European Tour title.

David Lynn ended up tied with compatriot Wood for second place after carding a 70 in the final round.

Clarke was happy to get back to winning ways, but also offered backing to Wood who had looked in an unbeatable position after the third round. “It’s a bit of a monkey to get off my back after three years of not winning so it’s good.

“On a personal note, I’m delighted to have played quite nicely today and win the tournament. At the same time I feel a lot for Chris Wood — he’s a young guy, a great player and I’ve been in his position before.”

Wood, who also went close to victory at the Africa Open earlier in the year when he suffered a play-off defeat to Louis Oosthuizen, found his final round “a bit of a grind”. “Obviously I’m disappointed and gutted,” Wood said.

“It was an extremely tough day on the course and it was a bit of a grind all the way round. When you start dropping shots and you hit one out of bounds your head starts going all over the place and it’s difficult to keep going really.” But Clarke offered words of comfort and insisted Wood will win an event before too long.

“It’s a tough day for Chris Wood and I really feel for him,” Clarke said.

“I don’t think the conditions were great for him today because he had to protect a lead but I do think that we don’t have to worry about him. He will win and it will be sooner rather than later.”

Clarke also reserved praise for Seve Ballestreos, whose funeral overshadowed the build-up to the Iberdrola Open.

“We wouldn’t be here without him, simple as that – the European Tour would not be in the position it is today without Seve,” Clarke said.

Shane Lowry finished in a four-way tie for fifth place after a closing 74 saw him finish on one-under par 279, one shot ahead of Damien McGrane, who closed with a 70.