Versailles, Sept 15: Retief Goosen wins Lancome Trophy golf. Retief Goosen of South Africa won the 34th and final Lancome Trophy by four strokes on Sunday (September 14) to give himself a slim chance of claiming his third successive European order of merit. Goosen, 34, led from start to finish at St-Nom-la-Breteche for his first win of the season when, despite a sometimes stuttering closing round one-under-par 70 for an 18-under-par total of 266, he kept Ireland's Paul McGinley at bay. McGinley began the final round three strokes behind Goosen, cut the lead to only a stroke after the 11th, but then ran out of steam with a double-bogey at the 16th to shoot a 71. The Irishman's consolation was to earn 200,000 Ryder Cup points, which put him well clear on top of Europe's points table after two counting events. Goosen's $300,000 win took him to 10th on the European money list but he is still $1.5 million behind rankings leader Ernie Els with seven events to come before the end of the season.


It was Goosen's second Lancome Trophy success in four years and, with two French Open wins, his fourth in France. Although he did not let this title get away, like he did in 2001 when allowing a four-shot lead with four holes to go to turn into a Sergio Garcia victory, Goosen at times made things hard for himself before earning his ninth European Tour title.


He looked to be cruising when holding a five-shot advantage early on but, by mixing in wayward tee-shots and three bogeys with his five birdies, kept the outcome in doubt until McGinley took the pressure off on the 16th.


Leading final round scores in the 1,800,000 euros Lancome Trophy at the par-71 Saint-Mon-la-Breteche course on Sunday (Britain unless stated): 266 Retief Goosen (South Africa) 63 65 68 70 270 Paul McGinley (Ireland) 66 67 66 71 271 Raphael Jacquelin (France) 69 67 68 67, Ian Poulter 67 69 65 70 272 Nicolas Colsaerts (Belgium) 66 66 68 72, Hennie Otto (South Africa) 69 65 70 68 273 Jean-Francois Remesy (France) 72 65 70 66 274 David Howell 69 70 67 68, Carlos Rodiles (Spain) 66 66 73 69 275 Peter Fowler (Australia) 67 69 73 66, Damien McGrane (Ireland) 68 68 67 72, Marten Olander (Sweden) 71 66 67 71 276 Maarten Lafeber (Netherlands) 68 70 70 68, Euan Little 71 69 69 67, Simon Wakefield 65 74 70 67, Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 68 68 71 69, Ian Woosnam 70 67 70 69, Richard Bland 68 71 68 69 277 Steve Webster 69 71 68 69, Nick O'Hern (Australia) 69 70 69 69, Eduardo Romero (Argentina) 68 67 70 72, David Lynn 69 69 66 73, Gary Evans 73 68 66 70 278 Jesus Maria Arruti (Spain) 70 68 73 67, Peter Baker 71 66 72 69, John Bickerton 71 67 68 72, Markus Brier (Austria) 68 70 69 71, Mark McNulty (Zimbabwe) 68 67 72 71, Jarrod Moseley (Austria) 68 71 71 68, Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 70 68 68 72


Bureau Report