Graeme McDowell saw off the challenges of Gareth Maybin and Damien McGrane – who both saw misfortune on final holes - to claim victory at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters in Sotogrande on Sunday where strong winds made low scoring extremely difficult.
McDowell went round in 74 to finish three under, two ahead of Gareth Maybin, Damien McGrane and Denmark’s Soren Kjeldsen.
Both Maybin and McGrane had been in contention up until the closing holes, only to see their hopes dashed over Valderrama’s notoriously tough home stretch.
McDowell's victory - his seventh on the European Tour - lifts him into the top ten of the Official World Golf Rankings and closes the gap on Race to Dubai leader Martin Kaymer, who finished in a tie for 21st on seven over par.
Kaymer’s failure to claim a top-two finish ensures fellow European Lee Westwood will displace Tiger Woods as World Number One when the latest rankings are released on Monday.
There will also be six Europeans in the top 10 - McDowell joins Westwood, Kaymer, Paul Casey, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy - in comparison to four Americans.
McDowell and Maybin had begun the day with a four-shot advantage at the top of the leader board, but it was McGrane who moved into pole position as the tournament moved towards its conclusion. The Kells man picked up birdies at three, seven, 11 and a pitch from a bunker on the 15 to reach five under through as many holes, with his only bogey at the ninth.
With McDowell and Maybin slipping back to four and three under respectively, McGrane appeared the most likely to walk away with the €500,000 first prize. Unfortunately, he then faltered, double bogeying 16 before dropping further shots at 17 and 18.
Maybin also finishing bogey-bogey – finding the water on the 17th - affording McDowell the chance to play the final hole with caution, coming up short of the green in two before taking three more shots to seal a win.
Kjeldsen equalled the lowest round of the day with an impressive 69 to move into a tie for second, with Holland’s Joost Luiten also going round in two under to share fifth with Thomas Björn.
Sergio Garcia finished four over although his final round was a disappointing 76. Alongside him was fellow 2010 Ryder cup vice-captain, Thomas Bjorn, who mixed four birdies with four bogeys in a 71.
José María Olazábal was the only other man to break par on Sunday, the veteran Spaniard carding four birdies in a 70 that lifted him into a tie for tenth on four over.
Shane Lowry finished 6 over par after a final round of 75.
Darren Clarke also carded a 75 to sign for an 8 over par total.
Michael Hoey finished Sunday in 75 shots to end the weekend on 10 over par.
Peter Lawrie carded a 77 to finish 12 over par in 47th place.
