Bjorn a winner again

Golf: Damien McGrane’s challenge at the Portuguese Open faded badly in the final round as Thomas Bjorn picked up his first European…

Golf:Damien McGrane's challenge at the Portuguese Open faded badly in the final round as Thomas Bjorn picked up his first European Tour title in four years. Bjorn finished on 23 under, five clear of Australia's Richard Green.

McGrane, just about in touch coming into the final round, bogeyed all of the last five holes to drop out of contention and finish on 13 under, one ahead of Darren Clarke.

Bjorn scrambled valiantly over the front nine as the wind increased speed, holing par-saving putts of 12, nine and seven feet on his way to the turn three ahead, the position he had been overnight.

His save from 12ft came on the eighth after he drove on to a cart-path, sending his ball into the bottom of a portable television camera cart.

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A missed birdie putt of only 15 inches by Bjorn on the long 12th could have proved costly as Green moved within just a stroke of him with five holes to play.

However, two-shot swings on the 14th and 15th finally ended Bjorn's barren spell as he birdied both holes to Green's bogeys. Bjorn's splendid approach to birdie the final hole put the icing on the cake for the Dane.