Barry Lane clinches title with closing 66

Britain's Barry Lane ended a 10-year wait for his fifth European Tour success when he won the British Masters title on Sunday by three strokes in his 499th tour event.

The 43-year-old's final round six-under-par 66 for a 16-under-par 272 total took him comfortably clear of Argentina's Eduardo Romero and Angel Cabrera.

A chip-in eagle on the long seventh carried Lane to the top of the leaderboard for the first time and the Englishman was never headed after that.

He might have lost his lead at the par-four 16th where his ball was buried in heavy rough but a magnificent recovery produced one of his five closing birdies and put him on his way to the $473,000 first prize.

Lane's victory was all the more remarkable because at the start of the week he was not even sure he could play after aggravating an old knee injury.

He said: "I didn't play well for a few years but this season I've really worked on my game, especially my putting and chipping and I was very disappointed to lose when leading in Singapore earlier in the season. But I learned a lot from that that helped me today."

Lane crucially lost his singles match to Chip Beck in the 1993 Ryder Cup at the nearby Belfry when Europe were beaten but now has happier memories of the area.

He praised his caddie for helping him relax down the home stretch, fellow Briton Gary Tillston, the man who was carrying his bag in the Ryder Cup.

Cabrera and Romero continued Argentina's strong interest in European Tour prize-givings this year and both also maintained their bids for their country's World Cup team.

Romero failed by just one place in becoming the tour's oldest winner at 49 years, but kept up his aim of earning enough money to qualify for the British Open after carding a 69.

Cabrera followed up last week's fourth place in the Italian Open, which he led going into the final round, with a closing 67, moving up the finishing order with an eagle on the 17th.

Swede Patrik Sjoland (69) finished a further stroke back, while overnight leader Paul Broadhurst (72) and tournament favourite Darren Clarke (65) closed on 277.

Colin Montgomerie ended a tough week after the announcement of his divorce with a 71 that earned him 16th place on 282.

"I always knew I could play under pressure but this was a different type of atmosphere I found myself in this week," said Montgomerie, praising the gallery for lifting his spirits. "But I'm glad it is over now and I can move on."

Britain's Raymond Russell won a $50,000 Jaguar car for being nearest the flag on the short 18th, his ball finishing 3ft 6ins from the pin.

Thai Thongchai Jaidee captured the European Tour's first albatross of the season with a two on the 516-yard par-five 17th.

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