Kenneth Ferrie wins as Thomas Bjorn shoots 86

A calamitous finish by overnight leader Thomas Bjorn, including an 11 on the 17th hole, allowed Briton Kenneth Ferrie to come from seven strokes behind to win the European Open by two shots on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Englishman carded a two-under-par 70 to clinch his second European Tour title, finishing on three-under 285 at the K Club's Palmer Course.

Seven-times European number one Colin Montgomerie tied for second at one under with fellow Briton Graeme Storm after closing with a 69. Storm returned a 73.

"Everybody was bleeding so I just kept going," said a jubilant Ferrie, whose maiden European Tour title came at the 2003 Spanish Open.

"I thought my chance had gone when I double-bogeyed 13, but the nature of this course and its finish can always give you a chance."

Denmark's Bjorn began the day four strokes clear but collapsed in even worse fashion than in 2003 when he allowed the British Open at Royal St George's to slip from his grasp on the final day.

The former Ryder Cup player, bidding for his eighth European Tour title and second this year, hit three balls into the River Liffey on the penultimate hole on his way to a dismal 14-over 86 and a share of 30th place.

The signs had looked ominous for the 34-year-old Bjorn in the final round as his waywardness cost him five strokes in the first 10 holes.

After double-bogeying the par-five 10th, however, he looked to have turned his game around and he regained the outright lead with a birdie at the 14th to lie one ahead of playing partner Raphael Jacquelin.

Both players bogeyed 15 and 16 before a determined Ferrie, recovering from a double-bogey six on 13, joined them in a three-way tie for the lead.

Then came Bjorn's total collapse.

Jacquelin also lost his chance of victory by driving into water on 17 and eventually settled for a 79 and a share of 19th place at three-over 291.

Ferrie's dramatic and unexpected victory ended a memorable week for the Englishman, who sealed his British Open place by sinking a 25-foot putt in a five-man playoff at Sunningdale on Tuesday.

"It's been quite a week for me," he added.

Ferrie said a new fitness and diet regime had helped him in his bid for victory: "Coming down the stretch, I was not so tired. Last year, I would have been huffing and puffing."

Montgomerie, who began with four birdies in the first five holes, surged through the field to clinch a share of second place, although he missed a five-foot birdie putt at the last.

Storm celebrated the best European Tour finish of his career and, with Ferrie already qualified for the British Open, took the lone St Andrews place on offer for the highest finisher not already exempt for the third major of the year.

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