Off-course worries and the indomitable Swede Jesper Parnevik, proved just too much for Darren Clarke in Stockholm yesterday, as he had to accept second-best for the third time this year.
Clarke claimed his second runner-up spot in succession and an £88,000 prize took him to second on the European rankings, but the Ulsterman knew that but for a little lack of concentration he could easily have won the previous week in Holland and yesterday's confrontation with the man he duelled with at Royal Troon last year.
In the end, Parnevik delighted the 30,000 gallery as the Swede won his second Scandinavian Masters title in four years, winning this one from Clarke by three strokes on 11-under-par.
In the end, though, it was not a close run thing, as an expected matchplay type situation with Clarke failed to materialise. No doubt that was because the Irishman had his mind on other things. On Saturday night, for a start, he insisted he would not even take part in the final round if wife Heather went into labour as they expect their first child imminently.
Right from when he bogeyed the second after his approach hit a tree branch despite arriving from the centre of the fairway, Clarke was never, as he would put it, at the races.
Despite birdies on the long fifth and at 14 and 15, Clarke undid the good work with a bogey on six and 13 and 16. Parnevik, meanwhile remained steady and could even afford a bogey on 17 as the Ulsterman's concentration sagged.
There is every chance Clarke will get to the USPGA, the final major in Seattle, but it will be on the back of two runner-up spots which should have left him delighted. He was not.
"If I do get to Seattle then it will be good to go there with two seconds under my belt. But it would have been better with two firsts.
"I didn't play particularly badly but scored badly. I never really put Jesper under any pressure especially early on, when I needed to. I probably lost concentration a few times, which was hardly surprising, and that cost me at the end of the round.
"At least I've moved up to number two on the rankings and after the next couple of weeks I can have a go at Lee (Westwood). There's big prize money to be won at the Smurfit European Open for a start."
Paul McGinley gave his chances of competing for Ireland in the Dunhill Cup at St Andrews a tremendous boost by shooting the day's best round of 67 to end with a share of 16th place with Colin Montgomerie and £9,768. Montgomerie now drops to third in the money list.
Padraig Harrington and Philip Walton are his chief threats with just next week to count for the remaining interested parties be fore selection after the USPGA Championship. Walton missed the cut in Sweden and a horror run by Harrington inhibited his prize money. He ran up an eight on the par-four 14th as he dropped five shots in five holes after turning round and even birdies either side of the run could not keep him out of petty cash. Harrington collected just £1,575 for 63rd place on seven-over-par.
Des Smyth collected £7,680 for 25th place, while Eamonn Darcy was in 43rd place for £4,480.
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