Thomas Bjørn of Denmark returned to winning ways with a five shot victory at the Estoril Open de Portugal after the Dane saw off the challenge from Richard Green of Australia with a closing 68 for a 23 under par aggregate total of 265.
Australian left-hander Green got within one before a decisive swing in Bjorn's direction at the 14th and 15th gave the 39 year old his tenth European Tour title and first for more than four years.
The former Dubai Desert Classic winner Green bogeyed the par four 14th as his playing partner birdied and when Bjørn's tee shot went within five feet at the par three next the motor sport enthusiast could only respond by hitting his into a bunker and dropping another shot.
That saw Bjørn, whose last Ryder Cup Cap came in the famous victory at The Belfry in 2002, pull five clear and although he bogeyed the 16th he managed to avoid a nervous finish.
It caps an incredible return to form over the last ten days - when he arrived at The Celtic Manor Wales Open last week Bjørn had missed six successive cuts on The European Tour and was outside the top 200 on The Official World Golf Ranking.
But a top ten finish in Newport gave him the confidence to book an Open Championship spot at Sunningdale on Monday and he adds a winner's cheque for €166,660 with his success at Pennha Longa Golf club, climbing into the top 40 on The Race to Dubai as a result.
Damien McGrane started well reaching the halfway point in 33 after three birdies on holes 6, 7 and 8 – adding another at 11. But five consecutive bogeys from the fourteenth to the finish left him one over per for the day and 5 shots off the winner on 13 under in 5th place.
Darren Clarke finished one shot adrift of the Meath man after a round of 66 and dropping only one shot on the 14th all day for a share of sixth place on 12 under.
Gary Murphy made the turn in 37 shots and the back nine in one under par to finish level remaining -3 overall and collecting his first cheque this season.
