Jimenez completes hat-trick

Miguel Angel Jimenez held off the dogged challenge of Edoardo Molinari to win the European Masters at Crans-sur-Sierre by three shots.

In doing so the veteran Spaniard chalked up his third European Tour victory of what has been a memorable season.

Having already won in Dubai and France, the 46-year-old has now ended a 22-year wait for success in Switzerland in a tournament in which he has twice before finished as runner-up.

Jimenez, who started the day with a three-shot lead, looked to be cruising to a comfortable victory as he pulled six clear with nine holes to play.

But Molinari, who was also looking for a third win of the season, refused to throw the towel in and had closed to within one of his Ryder Cup colleague with three holes to play.

But that was as good as it got for the Italian as a birdie from Jimenez at 17 reopened a three-shot advantage and ensured he could enjoy his walk down 18.

Italian teenager Matteo Manassero shot a closing 68 to finish in third on his own at 16-under-par and clinched his European Tour card for next season in the process.

Another precociously talented teenager was fourth, Korea's Seung Yul Noh shooting a 67 to finish on 13-under, one clear of a four-man group that comprised Robert-Jan Derksen of Holland, South African Charl Schwartzel and English duo Robert Coles and Oliver Wilson.

But it was Jimenez who was left celebrating as he clinched a long overdue win at the Alpine lay-out.

He set the tone for his day as he birdied the opening par-five for the third time this week and, while Molinari did likewise, a bogey at the second for the Italian increased the lead to four.

Six-shot advantage

Jimenez's putter then came to life as he approached the turn and birdies at six, seven and nine put him in complete control at 21-under with Molinari languishing some six shots back.

But the gritty Italian once again underlined his competitive spirit with birdies at 12 and 14 as Jimenez bogeyed the latter and from nowhere he was right back in it, as a fantastic second to the par-five 15th set up an eagle that lifted him to 19-under and within one shot of his playing partner.

However, he lost the chance to apply pressure at the par-three 16th as he found a bunker with his tee-shot.

Jimenez had also produced a poor tee-shot, but with Molinari unable to get up and down to save par, the Spaniard held his nerve to do just that and move two clear.

He then perfectly read a 10-foot breaking birdie putt at 17 to stretch his advantage to three and give himself real breathing space.

In the end a par down the last was more than good enough to confirm his triumph and the delighted Spaniard told Sky Sports afterwards: "It's 22 years as you say and I love to come here.

"It's not only two times I've finished second here, but also the amount of times I've finished top ten and been in contention here.

"I love coming here and I love winning this tournament, it means a lot. I have a lot of friends here... 22 years on Tour, 22 years coming here. What more do you want me to say!"