Clarke retains title with closing 65

Darren Clarke shows off the English Open trophy. The first title he has sucessfully defended. Allsport

Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke, reeling off four successive birdies over his last six holes, successfully defended his Compass Group English Open title on Sunday with a blistering closing round of 65.

Having begun the day six shots off the lead, Clarke collected 10 birdies and three dropped shots in all as he posted a 72-hole total of 13-under-par 275 at the Forest of Arden.

But the stocky Northern Irishman, the leader in the clubhouse at that point, then had to wait nervously puffing on his cigar as overnight leader Michael Campbell had a good chance for a birdie-two at the last to force a play-off.

The New Zealander, chasing his third European Tour title of the year, had hit his approach on the par-three 18th to within 10 feet of the cup. But his birdie putt lipped out and he had to settle for a share of second place, after a level-par 72, with Ryder Cup veteran Mark James, who carded a 69, on 276.

England's Lee Westwood, hunting his second win in three weeks, dropped back from joint second overnight into a share of fourth spot with Argentina's Ricardo Gonzalez on 278 after a 72.

"That round of 65 was pretty good! I kept hitting it to within eight or 10 feet most of the day and I only made a few mistakes," Clarke said afterwards.

"That's the way I like to play - a few errors and lots of birdies! I just managed to pip Michael (Campbell) and Jesse (Mark James) in the end."

Yet, for much of the day, it seemed as if Campbell was destined to secure a wire-to-wire victory. He had opened up a two-shot cushion with just seven holes to play before he dropped two critical shots at the 13th and 15th.

The 31-year-old, two ahead overnight, had moved to 13-under overall and one-under-par for the day after he made key birdies at the seventh and the 10th.

But even then the Kiwi had to dig deep after being caught for the first time in the tournament when he bogeyed the short fifth hole in his final round. That slip enabled the English pair of James and Brian Davis to draw level at 11-under-par before Campbell gave himself some much-needed breathing space with his two birdies around the turn.

Davis, who completed his outward nine in just 31 after holing a wedge for an eagle and a bunker shot for a birdie, then fell back for a closing 68 and a share of sixth place on 209.

Despite Campbell's valiant efforts falling just short in the final analysis, the Forest of Arden event was one to savour for Darren Clarke. It was his second win of the year after his spectacular four and three victory over world number one Tiger Woods in the final of the Andersen Consulting World Match Play Championship in California during February and it also extended his lead at the top of the the European Order of Merit.

The 31-year-old from Dungannon said later that he had learned a great deal from the determined example continually set by world number three Colin MOntgomerie.

"At his acceptance speech at the Volvo PGA last week, Colin said that the thing which keeps him going is the determination to finish at the top of the field as often as he can. That's something I want do as well."

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