Goosen clinches Order of Merit in Madrid

South African Retief Goosen clinched the European Order of Merit today _ and then won the Telefonica Madrid Open for good measure…

South African Retief Goosen clinched the European Order of Merit today _ and then won the Telefonica Madrid Open for good measure after a three-hole play-off with Steve Webster.

One ahead on the last tee and certain of the money list crown, the South African bunkered his approach, came out 20 feet past and bogeyed to fall back into a tie on the 20-under-par total of 264.

Webster, seeking his first European tour victory, had been two strokes behind with six holes to play, but after Goosen three-putted the 13th he hit his approach to three feet on the 15th.

Goosen then nosed in front again with a superb tee shot to four feet on the short 17th, but his closing bogey gave him a 68 to Webster's 66 and they went into sudden death.

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At the first Webster missed from five feet, at the second Goosen left a 15-footer short. But at the next, the short 17th, the US Open champion made a 10-foot putt for a birdie two and the £145,904 first prize.

It was Webster's third runners-up finish, but he did have the compensation of £97,267.

Londoner Brian Davis tied Spaniard Diego Borrego for third after a career-best 62, while Darren Clarke, the only player at the start of the week who had a chance of overhauling Goosen on the money list, was joint sixth.