FORMER European Ryder Cup star Brian Barnes, finished in a tie for fourth place behind winner Hale Irwin after a closing 75 at the PGA Seniors Championship in Palm Beach, Florida, yesterday.

The Scot ended his campaign on a one under par total of 287, seven shots behind Irwin whose closing 71 gave him the title by two strokes ahead of Japan's Isao Aoki.

Irwin, three times US Open champion who turned 50 last June, is a rookie on the US Senior Tour and was winning his fourth tournament on the circuit. The victor, Irwin's second this year, earned him £132,000 and took his winnings for the season to over £416,000.