Golf: Darren Clarke successfully defended his Taiheiyo Masters title in Japan after eagling the final hole yesterday. The Northern Irishman rolled in a 40-foot putt in the shadow of Mount Fuji for a four-under-par 68 for an 18-under total of 270.

Clarke finished two strokes clear of Japan's Mitsuhiro Tateyama to clinch his third title on the Japanese tour after winning the 2001 Chunichi Crowns tournament. He collected €217,000 for his effort.

"That's the first time I've defended a title successfully," said Clarke, who has had a difficult season with his wife, Heather, suffering from cancer. "I look forward to trying to make it three in a row next year."

It was Clarke's first win in a troubled 2005 and his first appearance since he pulled out of the Volvo Masters last month.

And the win was hailed by Tiger Woods, whose father has been suffering from cancer as well as having a heart attack.

"Darren is one of my best friends and it's good for him," said Woods, after finishing second in the European Tour's Champions tournament in Shanghai.

"To go through that with the person who's closest to you is so hard. I can't imagine the things Darren has to deal with."

Meanwhile, a birdie-birdie finish gave Des Smyth a two-stroke victory in the season-ending European Seniors Tour Championship at Riffa Golf Club in Bahrain on Saturday, a tournament which also saw Sam Torrance clinch the order of merit.

For both men it was a maiden triumph: Smyth's first title on the European Seniors Tour and the first time Torrance had finished number one.

"Everyone was saying beforehand that I would win easily as I had a three-shot lead overnight," Smyth said, "but it didn't turn out that way. I felt like I was playing with my handbrake on and couldn't release it.

"Funnily, when I went a shot behind at the 11th it seemed to focus my mind more. I knew I had to start going for my shots or I wouldn't win the tournament and it worked out quite well.

"I have had two wins in America this year, but this is very important to me.

"This has been a massive year, what with my successes on the golf course and my recent heart surgery, and next year is going to be massive as well as I'm vice-captain of the European Ryder Cup team in Ireland."