Westwood wins after Clarke stumbles

Lee Westwood completed back-to-back wins with a sensational victory on a day of high drama in the Smurfit European Open at the K Club.

The 26-year-old from Worksop, winner of the Dutch Open last week, began the final day seven shots adrift of stablemate Darren Clarke.

But he simply refused to accept second best and fired a superb closing 65 to win by three shots from Clarke and Australian Peter O'Malley and claim the £226,000 first prize.

At one stage it looked as though Westwood would storm away to the win as he picked up eight birdies in 15 holes to lead O'Malley by two shots with three to play as Clarke stumbled to a closing 75.

Yet there was still more drama to unfold over the closing holes as Westwood found the water on the 16th to run up a double-bogey six and allow O'Malley to draw level.

Just minutes later however the exact same fate befell the Australian when his brave attempt to find the green from behind a tree in the left-hand rough on the same hole came up inches short of the putting surface and was adjudged to be still in the water hazard.

The subsequent six gave Westwood a two-shot cushion he increased with a birdie on the last, and although O'Malley bravely holed from 20 feet for a birdie on the 17th, he could not conjure up the necessary eagle on the last and had to settle for joint second with Clarke.

Clarke had equalled the lowest-ever score on the European Tour with a 12 under par 60 on Saturday and followed up with a third round 66 that included his first ever hole in one as a professional.

But after opening with five pars he dropped three shots in four holes to the turn and never recovered, his round summed up by a three-foot birdie putt he missed on the last to cost him outright second place.