Gonzalez wins with closing 65

Argentine Ricardo Gonzalez recorded his second European Tour victory when he came from six shots behind to snatch the Madrid Open on Sunday by a stroke.

A closing six-under-par 65 took the 34-year-old to a 14-under-par total of 270, a stroke better than Irishman Padraig Harrington, Swede Marten Olander, Australian Nick O'Hern and long-time leader Paul Casey of Britain.

Gonzalez charged into contention with four successive birdies from the fourth after an early bogey and sealed his win -- his other success came at the 2001 European Masters -- with four birdies in five holes from the 11th.

Casey, looking for a third European Tour title of the year, led for the first three rounds and led by four going into the final day.

But he took three bogeys in five holes from the seventh as he ran up a 72, the only player in the top 19 players to be over par.

Harrington, also aiming to be the first European to a title hat-trick, charged through the field in a bid to claim his third win at Club de Campo in eight years, but stalled towards the end as he had to settle for a 65 and second place for a remarkable 20th time in his career.

After Gonzalez bunkered himself at the last and missed par from eight feet, Casey and O'Hern, who carded a 68, had chances to force a play-off but both missed putts of around 18 feet for birdies on the last.

Olander's closing 67 earned him his best tour finish.

Gonzalez said: "Things didn't work out after my first win but now I hope to go on to more wins.

"But when I bogeyed the second hole to go seven behind Casey my will to win had gone.

"Then after a good par on the third I started playing really well and the door opened, my run of birdies switched the light back on for me."

A disconsolate Casey blamed his putting, as well as his swing which he said suffered because of the extra clothing he had to wear during the rainy weekend.

"I had 36 putts today and you can't win a tournament with that number of putts. I felt I had one hand on the trophy."

Home favourite Sergio Garcia had threatened the lead only to bogey the last two holes to finish three behind in a tie for sixth place.

The start was delayed for just over two hours while the course was mopped after further heavy rain.

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