Darren Clarke came from behind to claim the Iberdrola Open as Chris Wood suffered a final-round meltdown in Mallorca.
Long-awaited tournament win for Clarke in Mallorca
Darren Clarke came from behind to claim the Iberdrola Open as Chris Wood suffered a final-round meltdown in Mallorca.
In windy conditions, Englishman Wood held a four-shot lead going into the final round but struggled to a six-over 76 to finish in a tie for second with David Lynn.
Clarke coped much better with the blustery wind to sign for a one-under round of 69 and finish on six-under for the event at the Pula Golf Club.
That gave the 42-year-old Northern Irishman a three-shot victory in the tournament and his 13th success on the European Tour - though it is his first since the 2008 KLM Open.
After initially closing the gap on Wood, Clarke found the water on 11 but fought back strongly at the end of his round, sinking a putt from the fringe on 14 and then chipping in for par at the 16th.
Conditions
Wood, meanwhile, could not handle the conditions; successive three-putts came before a drive out of bounds as he had to settle for a back nine of 40.
"It feels pretty good right now, I got so down after my weekend in Morocco worked out poorly, but I've had a good break, worked on a few things and it was great to come back out and win," Clarke, who has had three weeks off in Barbados, told
Sky Sports afterwards.
"I feel for Woody, he's had a tough day out there and he's trying to win his first tournament - I've been a bit lucky and a few things went for me there late on and they didn't go for him but I'm delighted I've won again.
"When you're chasing the leader perfect conditions are not want you want - a firm breeze I thought was always going to help me and that's how it turned out.
"The course has been redesigned by Ollie and it's tough, you don't need to be a long course to be challenging. Six under par has won the tournament with three good days and one tough day so the golf course is challenging."
Lynn carded a level-par 70 for his three-under finish, while Alastair Forsyth also hit 70 to finish on two under. Paul Lawrie and Graeme Storm both matched Forsyth's round to finish in a tie for fifth a further shot back.
Course designer Jose Maria Olazabal had a disappointing day, though, as he could only muster a 73 that left him on one under - he had started the final day four under par.
Shane Lowry also had a poor day, as his promising position was wasted when he could do no better than a 74 to finish alongside Olazabal and company.
