Kjeldsen gains maiden Tour victory

Soren Kjeldsen clinched his maiden European Tour victory by two shots at the Diageo Championship on Sunday, becoming Denmark's fifth career winner on the European Tour.

The 28-year-old Dane, who began the final round with a five-shot lead, fired a closing level-par 72 to finish at nine-under 279.

His playing partner, local favourite Alastair Forsyth, carded a final-round 69 for second place at seven under with fellow Briton Paul Broadhurst a further stroke back in third after a 70.

Kjeldsen got off to a faltering start with three bogeys in the first nine holes, and Forsyth closed to within two of the lead after reaching the turn in one-under-par 35.

Former Ryder Cup player Broadhurst, after years of struggle, also surged into contention, bouncing back from two early bogeys with five birdies in six holes from the seventh.

But Kjeldsen, despite nervously missing a two-foot birdie putt on 12, steadied himself on the back nine and birdies at the 11th and 14th helped him on his way to securing the winner's cheque for $333,500.

"I knew if I could shoot 34 on the back nine that would put the guys under pressure because they would have to be four under to catch me and that was a bit of tall order," said Kjeldsen, who produced three top-10 finishes earlier in the season.

The Dane has been knocking on the door of European Tour success for the last five years, and now joins compatriots Thomas Bjorn, Steen Tinning and Anders and Soren Hansen as a winner in Europe.

"The people back home just think four guys (from Denmark) had won and I hadn't, so I've had a bit of pressure and it's probably made it difficult for me to win," said Kjeldsen, who climbed to seventh in the European money list with his triumph.

"And the guys made it look very easy to win, so that probably made it a bit more difficult for me.

"There's a lot of competition in a good way (between the Danish players). We definitely push each other on."

Kjeldsen paid special tribute to Ryder Cup player Bjorn: "When I turned pro in 1995, Thomas was the big superstar and he set the standards.

"He's the big brother and a few weeks ago, at the (Volvo) PGA (Championship), he gave me his usual pep-talk, advising me to keep aiming for the top 10 to keep in contention."

Forsyth birdied two of the last three holes to edge out Broadhurst for second place, but the 1991 Ryder Cup player ensured he would retain his card for next season after three years of injury trouble and two visits to tour school.

Seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie carded a final-round 69 to finish fourth at five-under 283, four strokes behind Kjeldsen.

The Scot, who will celebrate his 40th birthday on Monday, threatened the lead early on Sunday before fading, but rallied with two closing birdies for his best finish since his runner-up placing at the Italian Open in the first week of May.

Defending champion Adam Scott of Australia never looked like repeating his 66 of Saturday, returning a one-over 73 to finish eighth at two under.

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